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MEMOIRS 

ANDREW  JACKSON 

COUriLED 

BY  A  CmZEN  OF  MASSACHUSETTS 


MEMOIRS 

OF 

MAJOR  GENERAL  AND  COSIMANDES  IN  CHIET 

or  THB 

SOUTHERN  DIVISION 

M 

THE  ARMY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

COMPILED 

BY  A  CITIZEN  OP  MASSACHUSETTS. 


PHILADELPHIA. 
1884. 


s 


DISTRICl*  OF  MASSACHUSETTS,  to  witi 

District  CUrk^t  OJJU*. 

Bi  IT  REMEMBERED,  That  On  the  twenty*«eventh  A&j  of  March,  A. 
0. 1638,  in  the  fifty  second  year  of  the  Independence  oftbe  United  State* 
of  America,  Chablei  Ewer,  of  the  said  district,  has  deposited  i a 
this  office  the  title  of  a  book,  the  right  whereof  he  claims  as  propri* 
e*or  in  the  words  following,  tc  wit 

*'  Memoirs  of  Andrew  Jackson,  late  Major-General  and  Commander 
in  Chief  of  the  Southern  DivtBion  of  the  Army  of  the  United  States 
Compiled  by  a  Citizen  of  Massachusetts." 

In  conformity  to  the  act  of  the  Congress  of  the  United  States,  enti- 
tled, "  An  Act  for  the  encouragement  of  learning,  by  securing  the 
•opies  of  maps,  charts,  and  books,  to  the  authors  and  proprietors  of 
such  copies  during  the  times  therein  mentioned  and  also  to  an  act, 
entitled,  ^'  An  Act  supplementary  to  an  act,  entitled.  An  Act  for  the 
encouragement  of  learning,  by  securing  the  copies  of  maps,  charts, 
and  books,  to  the  authors  and  proprietors  of  such  copies  during  the 
times  therein  mentioned  ;  and  extending  the  benefits  thereof  to  the  afti 
of  dei«igning,  eogravio^,  and  etching  historical  and  other  prints." 

JNO.  W.  DAVIS, 
CUrk  ^  the  District  ^fMatsackusem 


PREFACE. 


It  is  not  the  mtendon  of  the  compiler  of 
the  following  Memoirs  to  present  his  readers 
with  a  proL'x  preface,  because  it  constitutes 
that  pordon  of  a  book,  which  is  seldom  hon- 
oured with  a  reading. 

When  high  party  feelings  were  fully  devel- 
oped, m  relation  to  a  presidential  candidate, 
the  engmes  of  abuse,  brought  mto  operation 
on  the  one  hand,  and,  on  the  other,  the  fulsome 
adulation  exhibited  towards  the  distinguished 
patriot,  whose  life  is  here  delineated,  mduced 
the  compiler  to  undertake  an  investigation  of 
the  subject,  m  order  to  brmg  to  light  a  true 
statement  of  facts. 

With  this  object  constantly  in  view,  there  has 
Immh  a  eareAil  examination  of  the  official  doo> 


6  PREFACE. 

uments,  which  relate  to  his  public  acts.  His. 
talents  as  a  militaiy  commander,  as  a  clvilian,^ 
and,  lastly,  his  moral  character,  are  open  to  the 
inspection  of  all. 

Wlien  the  community  entertain  different 
vdews  of  the  conduct  or  motives  of  an  mdi- 
vidual,  who  has  acted  in  a  highly  responsible 
capacity,  it  is  exceedingly  difficult  to  concen- 
trate opinion,  by  presenting  a  series  of  truths. 
Prejudice  operates  with  peculiar  force  on  the^ 
minds  of  one  class,  while  the  other,  however 
well  convinced  of  their  error,  are  unwilling  t^ 
be  thou^t  inconsistent,'  and,  therefore,  nevet 
acknowledge  4e  felsit)'  of  the  course  of  rea 
sonmg  which  they  have  once  adopted. 

Although  this  compilation  has  been  attended 
with  considerable  anxiety,  in  reducing  the  ma- 
terials to  an  orderiy  arrangement,  a  hope  is 
mdulged  that  the  reader  will  admit,  from  a  can- 
did examination  of  the  whole,  that  the  intention 
has  not  been  to  make  the  work  subsernent  to 


PREFACE,  / 

I 

party  purposes  :  on  the  contrary,  it  is  intended 

to  be  a  plain  record  of  events  in  the  life  of  an  1 

illustrious  American  citizen.  ., 

The  compiler  of  these  Memoirs  makes 
,-no  claim  to  novelty  or  originality.    He  hopes, 

ojotwithstandmg,  that  they  will  not  be  found  | 

tuninteresting.     It  has  been  his  aim  to  be  | 

•stricdy  impartial.    The  materials  that  compose  i 

iJiis  work  have  accordingly  been  derived  alike  , 
from  the  enemies  and  friends  of  the  hero, 

rwhose  public  and  private  character  be  has  j 

lendeavoured  faithfully  to  delineate.  i 

Unaccustomed  to  eulogy,  and  unacquamted  | 
with  the  chicanery  of  political  life,  the  compiler 
submits  the  result  of  his  inquiries  to  the  impar- 

:tial  tribunal  of  the  public.  \ 

S-  j 

Boston,  March  15,  1828.  j 

i 

i 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  I. 

His  birth,  parentage,  family,  and  education. — Engao^es 
I  in  the  American  Revolution,  and  ia  shortly  after,  with 
■his  brother,  made  a  prisoner. — Their  treatment  and  suf- 
ferings.— Commences  the  study  of  law. — His  remoTal 
to  the  Western  country. — Anecdote. — Becomes  a  mem> 
ber  of  the  Tennessee  convention,  and  afterwards  a  sen- 
ator in  the  United  States'  congress. — Retires,  and  is  ap- 
pointed a  judge  of  the  state  courts. — Declju-ation  of 
war. — Tenders  the  services  of  2500  volunteers  to  the 
president. — Ordered  to  the  lower  country. — His  descent 
and  return,  and  discheirge  of  the  troops.     ...    p.  13. 

CHAPTER  n. 

Indian  preparation  for  hostilities. — Tecumseh  arrives 
amongst  the  southern  tribes ;  his  intrigues. — Civil  wars 
of  the  Creeks. — Destruction  of,  and  butchery  at  Fort 
Mimms. — Expedition  against  the  Indians. — Jackson 
unites  with  the  army,  and  enters  the  enemy's  country. — 
Scarcity  of  supplies  in  his  camp. — Learns  the  savages 
are  imbodied. — Seeks  to  form  a  junction  with  the  East 
Tennessee  division — Detaches  General  Coffee  across 
the  Coosa. — Battle  of  Tallushatchee  p.  30. 

CHAPTER  III. 
General  Jackson  endeavours  to  unite  with  the  East 
Tennessee  troops. — Establishment  of  Fort  Strother. — 
Learns  the  enemy  are  imbodied. — Marches  to  meet 
th»5n. — Battle  of  Talladega. — la  compelled  to  return  to 
hi«  encampment,  for  want  of  supplies. — Anecdote. — Di»- 
CMtents  of  his  army. — Militia  and  volunteers  mutiny. — 


10 


CONTENTS. 


Address  to  the  officers. — Is  compelled  to  abandon  Fort  , 

Strother. — Hillabee  clans  sue  for  peace. — Letter  from  1 

the   Rev.  Mr.  Blackburn. — Answer. — The  volunteers  i 

claim  to  be  discharged. — Mutiny. — Address  to  them. —  ' 

General  Cocke  arrives  with  part  of  his  division. — Gene-  ' 

ral  Coffee's  brigade  petitions  for  a  discharge. — General  j 

Jackson's  answer. — They  abandon  the  service,  and  go  • 


Discontents  of  the  militia. — Governor  Blount  recom- 
mends an  abandonment  of  the  service. — Jackson's  reply 
to  his  letter. — The  governor  takes  measures  for  bringing 
out  a  sufficient  force. — Conduct  of  General  Roberts. —  I 
His  brigade  retires  from  service. — Lieutenant  Kearley. — 
Arrival  of  additional  forces. — Arrest  of  officers. — Expe-  ' 
dition  against  the  Indians. — His  motites. — Battle  of  I 
Emuckfaw. — General  Coffee  proceeds  to  destroy  the 
enemy's  fortifications. — Second  battle  of  Emuckfaw. —  ' 
Troops  commence  their  return  march. — Ambuscade  I 
formed  by  the  Indians. — Battle  of  Enotichopco.  .  p.  82.  { 


The  volunteers  are  discharged. — New  troops  arrive.— 
Execution  of  a  soldier,  and  the  effect  produced. — Want 
of  supplies. — Mutiny  with  the  East  Tennessee  brigade.— 
General  Jackson  marches  against  the  Indians. — Battls 
of  Tohopeka. — Returns  to  Fort  'Williams. — Expedition 
to  Hoithlewalee  ;  its  failure,  and  the  causes. — Forms  a 
junction  with  the  Georgia  troope,  and  proceeds  to  the 
Hickory  Ground. — Indians  sue  for  peace. — Weatherford 
surrenders  himself — Arrival  of  General  Pinckney  at 
head-quarters. — Tennessee    troops  are  ordered  to  be 

arched  home,  and  discharged  from  service    .   p.  110. 


Jackson  is  appointed  a  major-general  in  the  service  of  i 

the  United  States. — Is  directed  to  open  a  negotiation  ! 

with  the  Indians. — Speech  of  the  Big  Warrior,  a  chief  I 

of  the  nation.— Concludes  a  treaty  with  the  Cieclt  Iiv-  ' 


home. 


CHAPTER  IV. 


CHAPTER  V. 


CHAPTER  VI. 


CONTENTS. 


11 


Sans. — His  views  against  Pensacola  and  Florida. — Gen- 
oral  Armstrong's  letter. — The  Spanish  governor  is  call- 
ed on  for  an  explanation  of  his  conduct. — His  answer,  and 
General  Jackson's  reply. — The  adjutant-general  is  de- 
spatched to  Tennessee  to  raise  volunteers. — Jackson  sets 
out  for  Mobile. — Orders  the  Tennessee  troops  to  ad- 
vance to  his  assistance  p.  141. 

CHAPTER  Vn. 
Colonel  NichoUs  arrives  at  Pensacola,  and  issues  a  proc- 
lamation to  the  southern  inhabitants. — Attack  on  Fort 
Bowyer,  and  loss  of  the  Hermes. — Jackson  determines  to 
reduce  Pensacola. — Demands  of  the  governor  an  explana 
tion  of  his  conduct;  his  answer.— Enters  and  takes  pos 
session  of  Pensacola. — Conduct  and  perfidy  of  tho  gov 
emor. — Destruction,  by  the  British,  of  Barrancas  Fort. — 
Our  troops  return  to  Mobile. — Expedition  against  the 
Indians. — General  Winchester  arrives,  and  Jackson  pro- 
ceeds to  take  command  of  New  Orleans.  ...   p.  171. 

CHAPTER  Vni. 
Jackson's  correspondence  with  the  governor  of  Louis- 
iana.— His  address  to  the  citizens. — Militia  from  Ten- 
nessee and  Kentucky  advance  ;  and  general  plans  adopt- 
ed for  defence. — Plan  for  filling  delinquencies  in  the 
army. — British  shipping  arrive  on  the  coast. — Loss  of 
the  Sea  Horse. — Battle  on  the  lake,  and  loss  of  the  gun- 
boats— Jackson  reviews  the  militia. — His  address  to 
them. — Detention  of  his  flag. — Anecdote. — Expresses 
sent  to  Generals  Coffee  and  Carroll. — Declaration  of 
martial  law  at  New  Orleans. — The  British  effect  a  lemd- 
ing,  and  Jackson  prepares  to  meet  them.  ...   p.  197. 

CHAPTER  IX. 
Oeneral  Jackson  concentrates  his  forces,  and  marches 
to  fight  the  enemy. — Alarms  of  the  city. — Anecdote. — 
Mo<fo  of  attack,  and  battle  of  the  23d  of  December.— 
British  re-enforcements  arrive  during  the  action. — Ar- 
rival of  General  Carroll's  division. — Our  army  retires 
from  the  field.— Effects  of  this  battle— Ja<Jtson  establish- 


12 


CONTENTS. 


es  a  line  of  defence. — General  Morgan  is  ordered  on  tho' 
right  bank  of  the  Mississippi. — Destruction  and  loss  of 
the  Caroline  schooner. — Battle  of  the  28th  December. —  I 
Conduct  of  the  legislature  of  Louisiana  ;  their  delibera- 
tions suspended. — Scarcity  of  arms  in  the  American.  ' 
camp. — Colonel  Hinds  p.  232 

CHAPTER  X.  ! 
Attack  of  the  1st  of  January. — General  Jackson's  line' 
of  defence. — Kentucky  troops  arrive  at  head-quarters. — 
British  army  re-enforced ;  their  preparations  for  attack.  ' 
— Battle  of  the  8th  of  January,  and  repulse  of  the  ene-  ' 
my. — American  redoubt  carried,  and  retaken. — Colonel 
Thornton  proceeds  against  General  Morgan's  line,  and 
takes  possession  of  it. — Letter  of  Captain  Wilkinson.—  i 
British  watchword. — Generous  conduct  of  the  American!  j 
soldiers. — Morgan's  line  regained. — General  Lambert  | 
requests  a  suspension  of  hostilities. — Armistice  conclud-  1 
ed. — Execution  of  an  American  soldier  by  the  British.  I 

p.  270.  , 
i 

CHAPTER  XL 
Bombardment  of  Fort  St.  Philip. — British  army  retire  i 
to  their  shipping. — General  Jackson,  with  his  troops,  re-  | 
turns  to  New  Orleans. — Day  of  thanksgiving. — Reduc-  ' 
tion  of  Fort  Bowyer. — Legislature  of  Louisiana  re-com-  ' 
mence  their  session. — Discontents  fomented  among  the' 
American  troops. — Arrest  of  Louaillier ;  of  Judge  Hall,  j 
— Peace  announced. — General  Jackson  is  prosecuted  for 
contempt  of  court ;  his  appearance  in  court. — Speech  at 
the  coffee-house. — His  own  opinion  of  martial  law. —  ' 
Troops  are  discharged,  and  the  general  returns  to  Nash-  i 
ville. — Reduction  of  the  army. — -Jackson's  commission  as-  ] 
general  annulled. — Treaty  with  Spain. — He  is  appointed.  \ 
governor  of  the  Floridas. — Transactions  there. — His  re-  i 
signation. — He  is  appointed  minister  to  Mexico ;  decline» 
the  mission ;  his  reasons ;  is  elected  a  senator  of  the- 
United  States ;  resigns  the  office. — His  person  and  char- 
acter.— Anecdotes. — Conclasion.     ...  p.  29S: 


1 


LIFE 

or 

ANDREW  JACKSON. 


CHAPTER  I. 

His  birth,  pttrentage,  fcamly,  and  education. — Engage/  in  the 
American  Revoudion,  and  is  shortly  after,  with  his  brother 
made  a  prisoner. —  Their  treatment  and  sufferings. — Commencea 
the  study  of  hoc. — His  remmal  to  the  Western  country. — Anec- 
dote.— Becomes  a  member  of  the  Tennessee  Convention,  and 
aftervurds  a  Senator  in  the  United  States'  Congress. — Re- 
titts,  and  is  appointed  a  Judge  of  the  State  Courts. — De- 
claration cf  tear. —  Tenders  the  services  of  2500  volunteers  to 
the  President. — Ordered  to  the  louxr  country. — His  descent  and 
mum,  and  discharge  of  the  troops. 

Andrew  Jackson  was  born  on  the  ISth  day  of 
March,  1767.  His  father,  (Andrew,)  the  young- 
est son  of  his  family,  emigrated  to  America  from 
Ireland  during  the  year  1765,  bringing  with  him 
two  sons,  Hugh  and  Robert,  both  very  young. 
Landing  at  Charleston,  in  South  Carolina,  he  af- 
terwards purchased  a  tract  of  land,  in  what  was 
then  called  the  Waxsaw  settlement,  about  forty-five 
miles  above  Camden  ;  at  which  place  the  subject  of 
this  history  was  bom.  Shortly  after  his  birth,  his 
father  died,  leaving  three  sons  to  be  provided  for 
by  their  mother.  She  appears  to  have  been  an 
exemplary  woman,  am.  to  have  executed  the  ar- 
duous duties  which  had  devoh'ed  on  her,  with  great 
2 


14  LIFE   or   GENERAL  JACKSON. 

faithfulness  and  success.  To  the  lessons  she  iiy 
culcated  on  the  youthful  minds  of  her  sons,  was 
no  doubt,  owing,  in  a  great  measure,  that  fixed  op- 
position to  British  oppression,  which  afterwards  so 
much  distinguished  them.  Often  would  she  spend 
the  winter's  evenings  in  recounting  to  them  the 
sufferings  of  their  grandfather  at  the  siege  of  Car- 
rickfergus,  and  the  oppression  exercised  by  the  no- 
bility of  Ireland  over  the  labouring  poor  ;  impres- 
sing it  upon  them,  as  a  first  duty,  to  expend  their 
lives,  if  it  should  become  necessary,  in  defending 
and  supporting  the  rights  of  man. 

Inheriting  but  a  small  patrimony  from  their  fa- 
ther, it  was  impossible  that  all  the  sons  could  receive 
an  expensive  education.  The  two  eldest  were, 
therefore,  only  taught  the  rudiments  of  their  mother 
tongue,  at  a  common  country  school.  But  An- 
drew, being  intended  by  his  mother  for  the  minis- 
try, was  sent  to  a  flourishing  academy  at  the  Wax- 
saw  meeting-house,  superintended  by  Mr.  Hum- 
phries. Here  he  was  placed  on  the  study  of  the 
dead  languages,  and  continued  until  the  revolu- 
tionary war,  extending  its  ravages  into  that  section 
of  South  Carolina  where  he  then  was,  rendered 
it  necessary  that  every  one  should  betake  himself 
to  the  American  standard,  seek  protection  with  the 
enemy,  or  flee  his  country.  It  was  not  an  alter- 
native that  admitted  of  tedious  deliberation.  The 
natural  ardour  of  his  temper,  deriving  encourage- 
ment from  the  recommendations  of  his  mother, 
whose  feelings  were  excited  by  those  sentiments  in 
favour  of  liberty,  with  which,  by  her  conversation, 
his  mind  had  been  early  imbued,  quickly  deter 
mined  him  in  the  course  to  be  pursued ;  and,  at  the 
tender  age  of  fourteen,  accompanied  by  his  brother 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACK90N. 


15 


Robert,  he  hastened  to  the  American  camp,  and  '. 
engaged  actively  in  the  service  of  his  country.  j 
His  eldest  brother,  who  had  previously  joined  the  I 
army,  had  lost  his  life  at  the  battle  of  Stono,  from  | 
the  excessive  heat  of  the  weather,  and  the  fatigues 
of  the  day. 

Both  Andrew  and  Robert  were,  at  this  period,  ' 
pretty  well  acquainted  with  the  manual  exercise,  ] 
and  had  some  idea  of  the  different  evolutions  of  i 
the  field,  having  been  indulged  by  their  mother  in  ] 
attending  the  drill  and  general  musters  of  the  i 
neighbourhood.  ' 

The  Americans  being  unequal,  as  well  from  the  i 
inferiority  of  their  numbers,  as  their  discipline,  to  | 
engage  the  British  army  in  battle,  had  retired  be-  ] 
fore  it  into  the  interior  of  North  Carolina ;  but, 
when  they  learned  that  Lord  Cornwallis  had  cross-  I 
ed  the  Yadkin,  they  returned  in  small  detach-  j 
ments  to  their  native  state.    On  their  arrival,  they  | 
found  Lord  Rawdon  in  possession  of  Camden,  and 
the  whole  country  around  in  a  state  of  desolation,  | 
The  British  commander  being  advised  of  the  re- 
turn of  the  settlers  of  Waxsaw,  Major  Coffin  was 
immediately  despatched  thither,  with  a  corps  of 
light  dragoons,  a  company  of  infantry,  and  a  con- 
siderable number  of  tories,  for  their  capture  and 
destruction.     Hearing  of  their  approach,  the  set- 
tlers, without  delay,  appointed  the  Waxsaw  meet-  , 
ing-house  as  a  place  of  rendezvous,  that  they  might  ! 
the  better  collect  their  scattered  strength,  and  con- 
cert some  system  of  operations.    About  forty  of  , 
them  had  accordingly  assembled  at  this  point,  when  ' 
the  enemy  approached,  keeping  the  tories,  who  were  j 
dressed  in  the  common  garb  of  the  country,  in  front,  I 
whereby  this  little  band  of  patriots  was  completely 


I 


10  LIFE  OF  OENEHAL  JACKSON. 


4 


deceived,  having  taken  them  for  Captain  Nis-  { 
bet's  company,  in  expectation  of  which  they  had  j 
been  waiting.  Eleven  of  them  were  taken  prison  ^ 
era ;  the  rest  with  difficulty  fled,  betaking  them 
selves  to  the  woods  for  concealment.    Of  those  j 
who  thus  escaped,  though  closely  pursued,  were  | 
Andrew  Jackson  and  his  brother,  who,  entering  a  i 
secret  bend  in  a  creek,  that  was  close  at  hand, 
obtained  a  momentary  respite  from  danger,  and 
avoided,  for  the  night,  the  pursuit  of  the  enemy.  i 
The  next  day,  however,  having  gone  to  a  neigh-  I 
bouring  house,  for  the  purpose  of  procuring  some-  i 
thing  to  eat,  they  were  broken  in  upon,  and  made  i 
prisoners,  by  Coffin's  dragoons,  and  a  party  of  to-  j 
ries  who  accompanied  them.    Those  young  men,  I 
with  a  view  to  security,  had  placed  their  horses  in  ' 
the  wood,  on  the  margin  of  a  small  creek,  and  post- 
ed, on  the  road  which  led  by  the  house,  a  senti-  ' 
nel,  that  they  might  have  information  of  any  ap- 
proach, and  in  time  to  be  able  to  elude  it.  But 
the  tories,  who  were  well  acquainted  with  the  coun-  j 
try  and  the  passes  through  the  forest,  had,  unfortu- 
nately, passed  the  creek  at  the  very  point  where  < 
the  horses  and  baggage  of  our  young  soldiers  were  ] 
deposited,  and  taken  possession  of  them.    Having  ' 
done  this,  they  approached,  cautiously,  the  house, 
and  were  almost  at  tlie  door  before  they  were  dis-  i 
covered.     To  escape  was  impossible,  and  both 
were  made  prisoners.    Being  placed  under  guard,  | 
Andrew  was  ordered,  in  a  very  imperious  tone,  by  a 
British  officer,  to  clean  his  boots.    This  order  he 
positively  and  peremptorily  refused  to  obey  ;  alleg  i 
ing  that  he  looked  for  such  treatment  as  a  pris-  \ 
oner  of  war  had  a  right  to  expect    Incensed  at  I 
his  refusal,  the  officer  aimed  a  blow  at  his  head  ^ 

I 
J 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON.  17 

with  a  drawn  Bword,  which  would,  very  probably 
have  terminated  his  existence,  had  he  not  parried 
its  effects  by  throwing  up  his  left  hand,  on  which 
he  received  a  severe  wound,  the  mark  of  which  he 
bears  to  this  hour.  His  brother,  at  the  same  time, 
for  a  similar  offence,  received  a  deep  cut  on  the 
head,  which  subsequently  occasioned  his  death. 
They  were  both  now  taken  to  jail,  where,  sepa 
rated  and  confined,  tliey  were  treated  with  marked 
severity,  until  a  few  days  after  the  battle  before 
Camden,  when,  in  consequence  of  a  partial  ex- 
change, effected  by  the  intercessions  and  exer- 
tions of  their  mother,  and  Captain  Walker,  of  the 
militia,  they  were  both  released  from  confinement. 
Robert,  during  his  confinement  in  prison,  had  suf- 
fered greatly  ;  the  wound  on  his  head,  all  this  time, 
having  never  been  dressed,  was  followed  by  an  in- 
flammation of  the  brain,  which,  in  a  few  days  after 
his  liberation,  brought  him  to  the  grave.  To  add 
to  the  afilictiona  of  Andrew,  his  mother,  worn 
down  by  grief,  and  her  incessant  exertions  to  pro 
vide  clothing  and  other  comforts  for  the  suffering 
prisoners,  who  had  been  taken  from  her  neigh- 
bourhood, expired  in  a  few  weeks  after  her  son, 
near  the  lines  of  the  enemy,  in  the  vicinity  of 
Charleston.  Andrew,  the  last  and  only  surviving 
chUd,  confined  to  a  bed  of  sickness,  occasioned  by 
the  sufferings  he  had  been  compelled  to  undergo 
whilst  a  prisoner,  and  by  getting  wet,  on  his  return 
from  captivity,  was  tlms  left  in  the  wide  world, 
without  a  human  being  with  whom  he  could  claim 
a  near  relationship.  The  small  pox,  about  the 
tame  time,  having  made  its  appearance  upon  him, 
had  well  nigh  terminated  his  sorrows  and  his  ex 
iitence. 

2* 


18  LIFE  OF  GKNERAL  JACKSON.  j 

Having  at  length  recovered  from  his  compli-  : 
cated  afflictions,  he  entered  upon  the  enjoyment  I 
of  his  estate,  which,  although  small,  would  have 
been  sufficient,  under  prudent  management,  to  have  ' 
completed  his  education,  on  the  liberal  scale  which  | 
his  mother  had  designed.    Unfortunately,  however,  | 
he,  like  too  many  young  men,  sacrificing  future  ' 
prospects  to  present  gratification,  expended  it  with  i 
ratlier  too  profuse  a  hand.    Foreseeing  that  he  j 
should  be  finally  obliged  to  rely  on  his  own  ex-  \ 
ertions,  for  support  and  success  in  life,  he  again  \ 
betook  himself  to  his  studies  with  increased  in- 
dustry.   He  recommenced  under  Mr.  M'Culloch,  I 
in  that  part  of  Carolina  which  was  then  called  the 
New  Acquisition,  near  Hill's  iron  works.    Here  j 
he  revised  the  languages,  devoting  a  portion  of  his 
time  to  a  desultory  course  of  studies.  ' 

His  education  being  now  completed,  so  far  as  ] 
his  wasted  patrimony,  and  the  limited  opportum-  ; 
ties  then  afforded  in  that  section  of  the  country,  j 
would  permit,  at  the  age  of  eighteen,  he  turned  his  ! 
attention  to  acquiring  a  profession,  and  in  preparing  I 
himself  to  enter  on  the  busy  scenes  of  life.    The  I 
pulpit,  for  which  he  had  been  designed  by  his 
mother,  was  now  abandoned  for  the  bar ;  and,  in  \ 
the  winter  of  1784,  he  repaired  to  Salisbury,  in 
North  Carolina,  and  commenced  the  study  of  law 
under  Spruce  M'Cay,  Esq.,  (afterwards  one  of  the 
judges  of  tliat  state,)  and  subsequently  continued  it 
under  Colonel  John  Stokea.    Having  remained  at  ' 
Salisuury  until  the  winter  of  1786,  he  obtained  a  i 
license  from  the  judges  to  practise  law,  and  con- 
tinued in  the  state  until  the  spring  of  1788.  | 

The  western  parts  of  the  state  of  Tennessee  \ 

veaie,  about  this  time,  often  spoken  of,  aa  piesenting  j 


LIFB  OP  OENXRAl,  JACKSON-               K  < 

j 

flattering  prospects  to  adventurers.     He  imme-  j 
diately  determined  to  accompany  Judge  M'Nairy  ] 
thither,  who  had  been  appointed,  and  was  going  | 
out  to  hold  the  first  supreme  court  that  had  ever  | 
sat  in  the  state.    Having  reached  the  Holston,  they  i 
ascertained  it  would  be  impossible  to  arrive  at  the  < 
time  appointed  for  the  session  of  the  court ;  and  I 
therefore  determined  to  remain  in  that  section  of  j 
country  until  fall.    They  reached  NashviUe  in  Oc-  I 
tober.  .  It  had  not  been  Jackson's  intention,  certain- 
ly, to  make  Tennessee  the  place  of  his  future  resi-  ^ 
dence  ;  his  visit  was  merely  experimental,  and  his  | 
stay  remained  to  be  determined  by  the  advantages  j 
that  might  be  disclosed  ;.  but  fimding,  soon  after  his  ' 
arrival,  that  a  considerable  opening  was  offered  for  1 
the  success  of  a  young  attorney,  he  determined  to  I 
remain,  though  the  prospect  before  him  was,  cer- 
tainly, not  of  an  encouraging  cast    As  in  all  newly 
settled  countries  must  be  the  case,  society  was  i 
loosely  formed,  and  united  by  but  few  of  those  ties  I 
which  have  a  tendency  to  enforce  the  performance  I 
of  moral  duty,  and  the  right  execution  of  justice.  ' 
The  young  men  of  the  place,  adventurers  from  dif- 
ferent sections  of  the  country,  had  become  indebted  I 
to  the  merchants;  there  was  but  one  lawyer  in 
the  country,  and  they  had  so  contrived,  as  to  retain  i 
him  in  their  business ;  the  consequence  was,  that  ; 
the  merchants  were  entirely  deprived  of  the  means  1 
of  enforcing  against  those  gentlemen  the  execu- 
tion of  their  contracts.  In  this  state  of  things  Jack-  i 
son  made  his  appearance  at  Nashville,  and  while  ! 
the  creditor  class  looked  to  it  with  great  satis-  | 
faction,  the  debtors  were  sorely  displeased.    Appli-  < 
cations  were  immediately  made  to  him  for  his  pro- 
fessiooaJ  services,  and  on  the  morning  after  hia  ! 


4 


VU  LIFE  OP  GENERAL  JACKSON. 

arrival  he  issued  seventy  writs.  To  those  prodi- 
gal gentlemen,  it  was  an  alarming  circumstance ; 
their  former  security  was  impaired ;  but,  that  it 
might  not  wholly  depart,  they  determined  to  force 
him,  in  some  way  or  other,  to  leave  the  country ; 
and,  to  effect  this,  broils  and  quarrels  with  him 
were  to  be  resorted  to.  This,  however,  was  soon 
abandoned,  satisfied  by  the  first  controversy  in 
which  they  had  involved  him,  that  his  decision  and 
firmness  were  such  as  to  leave  no  hope  of  effecting 
any  thing  through  this  channel.  Disregarding  the 
opposition  raised  to  him,  he  continued,  with  care 
and  industry,  to  press  forward  in  his  professional 
course,  aiid  his  attention  soon  brought  him  forward, 
and  introduced  him  to  a  profitable  practice.  He 
was  subsequently  appointed  attorney-general  for 
the  district,  in  which  capacity  he  continued  to  act 
for  several  years. 

Indian  depredations  being  then  frequent  on  the 
Cumberland,  every  man,  of  necessity,  became  a 
soldier-  Unassisted  by  the  government,  the  set- 
tlers were  forced  to  rely  for  security  on  their  own 
bravery  and  exertions.  Although  young,  no  per- 
son was  more  distinguished  than  Andrew  Jack- 
son, in  defending  the  country  against  these  preda- 
tory incursions  of  the  savages,  who  continually 
harassed  the  frontiers,  and  not  unfrequently  ap- 
proached the  heart  of  the  settlements,  which  were 
thin,  but  not  widely  extended.  He  aided  alike  in 
garrisoning  the  forts,  and  in  pursuing  and  chastis- 
ing the  enemy. 

In  the  year  1796,  having,  by  his  patriotism,  firm- 
ness, and  talents,  secured  to  himself  a  distinguished 
standing,  he  was  chosen  one  of  the  members  of  th« 
convention  for  establishing  a  constitution  for  the 


tajTB  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON.  91 

State.  His  good  conduct  and  zeal  brought  him 
more  prominently  to  view;  and,  without  proposing 
or  soliciting,  he  was,  in  the  same  year,  elected  a 
member  of  the  house  of  representatives,  in  con- 
gress, for  the  state  of  Tennessee.  The  following 
year,  his  reputation  continuing  to  increase,  he  was 
chosen  a  senator  of  the  United  States'  congress, 
and  took  his  seat  on  the  22J  day  of  November, 
1797.  About  the  middle  of  April,  business  of  an 
important  and  private  nature  imposed  on  him  the 
necessity  of  asking  leave  of  absence,  and  return- 
ing home.  Leave  was  granted,  and  before  the 
next  session  he  resigned  his  seat.  He  was  but 
a  little  more  than  thirty  years  of  age,  and  hence, 
scarcely  eligible,  by  the  constitution,  at  the  time 
he  was  elected.  The  sedition  law  was  introduced 
mto  the  senate,  by  Mr.  Lloyd,  of  Maryland,  in 
June,  and  passed  that  body  on  the  4th  of  July  fol- 
lowing ;  hence  the  name  of  Jackson,  owing  to  the 
leave  of  absence  which  had  been  granted  him  in 
April,  does  not  appear  on  the  journals.  On  the 
alien  law,  however,  and  the  effort  to  repeal  the 
stamp  act,  he  was  present,  resting  in  the  minority. 

The  state  of  Tennessee,  on  its  admission  into 
the  Union,  comprising  but  one  military  division, 
and  General  Conway,  who  commanded  it,  as  major- 
general,  dying  about  this  time,  Jackson,  without 
being  consulted  on  the  subject,  was,  as  the  con- 
stitution of  the  state  du'ects,  chosen  by  ths  field 
officers  to  succeed  him  ;  which  appointment  he  con- 
tinued to  hold  until  May,  1814,  when  he  was  con- 
stituted a  major-general  in  the  United  States'  ser- 
vice. 

Becoming  tired  of  political  life,  for  the  intrigues 
of  which  he  declared  himself  unqualified,  and  hav- 


22 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON 


ing  for  two  years  voted  in  the  minority  in  congress,  j 
he  resigned,  after  the  first  session,  his  seat  in  the  ' 
senate.     To  this  measure  he  was  strongly  in-  ; 
duced,  from  a  desire  to  make  way  for  General  | 
Smith,  who,  he  conjectured,  would,  in  that  capaci- 
ty, be  able  to  render  more  important  services  to  the  ' 
government  than  himself.    His  country,  unwilling 
that  his  talents  should  remain  inactive  and  unem- 
ployed, again  demanded  his  services.   Immediate-  | 
/y  after  his  resignation,  he  was  appointed  one  of  i 
the  judges  of  the  supreme  court  of  the  state.  He 
advanced  to  the  office  with  reluctance,  and  in  a  short  ] 
time  resigned,  leaving  it  open  for  those,  who,  he  I 
believed,  were  better  qualified  than  himself,  to  dis-  i 
charge  its  intricate  and  lioportant  duties.  Unam- 
bitious of  those  distinctions  and  honours  which  ] 
young  men  are  usually  proud  to  possess  ;  finding,  ' 
too,  that  his  circumstances  and  condition  in  life  ! 
were  not  such  as  to  permit  his  time  and  attention  I 
to  be  devoted  to  public  matters,  he  determined  to  ] 
yield  them  into  others'  hands,  and  to  devote  him- 
self to  agricultural  pursuits  ;  and  accordingly  set-  I 
tied  himself  on  an  excellent  farm,  ten  miles  from  I 
Nashville,  on  the  Cumberland  river ;  where,  for  i 
several  years,  he  enjoyed  all  the  comforts  of  do- 
mestic and  social  intercourse.    Abstracted  from  i 
the  busy  scenes  of  public  life,  pleased  with  retire-  ] 
ment,  surrounded  by  friends  whom  he  loved,  and  j 
who  entertamed  for  him  the  highest  veneration 
and  respect,  and  blessed  with  an  amiable  and  affec- 
tionate consort,  nothing  seemed  wanting  to  the  com  -  j 
pletion  of  that  happiness  which  he  so  anxiously  I 
desired  whilst  in  office.  , 

Great  Britain,  by  multiplied  outrages  on  our 
rights,  as  an  independent  and  neutral  nation,  had  | 

J 


UFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON.  23 

1 

provoked  from  our  government  a  declaration  of  war 
against  her.    This  measure,  though  founded  in 
abundant  cause,  had  been  long  forborne,  and  ev- 
ery attempt  at  reconciliation  made,  without  effect ; 
when,  at  length,  it  was  resorted  to,  as  tlie  only  al-  , 
ternative  that  could  preserve  the  honour  and  dig- 
nity of  the  nation.  General  Jackson,  ever  devoted  to 
the  interests  of  his  country,  from  the  moment  of  , 
the  declaration,  knew  no  wish  so  strong  as  that  j 
of  entering  into  her  service,  against  a  power,  | 
which,  independent  of  public  considerations,  he  i 
had  many  private  reasons  for  disliking.    In  her, 
he  could  trace  sufferings  and  injuries  received,  ] 
and  the  eflScient  cause,  why,  in  early  life,  he  had  i 
been  left  forlorn  and  wretched,  without  a  single 
relation  in  the  world.    His  proud  and  inflexible 
mind,  however,  could  not  venture  to  solicit  an  ap- 
pointment in  the  army,  which  was  about  to  be  rais-  ' 
ed.     He  accordingly  remained  wholly  unknown,  | 
until,  at  the  head  of  the  militia,  employed  against  I 
the  Creek  Indians,  his  constant  vigilance,  and  the  I 
splendour  of  his  victories,  apprized  the  general  I 
government  of  those  great  military  talents  which 
he  so  eminently  possessed,  and  conspicuously  dis-  | 
played,  when  opportunities  for  exerting  them  were  i 
afforded.  ! 

The  acts  of  congress  of  the  6th  of  February,  | 
and  July,  1812,  afforded  the  means  of  bringing  in-  j 
to  view  a  display  of  those  powers,  which,  being 
unknowm,  under  other  circumstances,  unfortunate-  I 
ly,  might  have  slumbered  in  inaction.  Under  the  ' 
authority  of  these  acts,  autliorizing  the  president  j 
to  accept  the  services  of  fifty  thousand  volunteers, 
he  addressed  the  citizens  of  his  division,  and  - 
twenty-five  hundred  flocked  to  his  standard.  A 


1 


24  LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON. 


tender  of  them  having  been  made,  and  tlie  offer  ae* 
cepted,  in  November  he  received  orders  to  place 
himself  at  their  head  and  to  descend  the  Missis- 
sippi, for  the  defence  of  the  lower  country,  which 
was  then  supposed  to  be  in  danger.    On  the  10th 
of  December,  those  troops  rendezvoused  at  Nash- 
ville, prepared  to  advance  to  the  place  of  their  des-  I 
tination ;  and,  although  the  weather  was  then  ex»  ' 
cessively  severe,  and  the  ground  covered  with  \ 
snow,  no  troops  could  have  displayed  greater  firm-  ; 
ness.    The  general  was  every  where  with  tliem,  in-  i 
spiring  them  wdth  the  ardour  that  animated  his  | 
own  bosom.  i 
Having  procured  supplies,  and  made  the  necessa-  ' 
ry  arrangements  for  an  active  campaign,  they  pro- 
ceeded, the  7th  of  January,  on  their  journey ;  and, 
descending  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi,  through  cold 
and  ice,  arrived,  and  halted  at  Natchez.    Here  ' 
Jackson  had  been  instructed  to  remain,  until  he  ' 
should  receive  further  orders.    Having  chosen  a 
healthy  site  for  the  encampment  of  his  troops, 
about  two  miles  from  Washington,  he  devoted  his  ' 
time,  with  the  utmost  industry,  to  training  and  pre- 
paring them  for  active  service.    The  clouds  of 
war,  however,  in  that  quarter,  having  blown  over, 
an  order  was  received  from  the  secretary  of  war,  ; 
dated  the  5th  of  January,  directing  him,  on  the  re-  j 
ceipt  thereof,  to  dismiss  tliose  under  his  command  ■ 
ftora  service,  and  to  take  measures  for  delivering  I 
over  every  article  of  public  property,  in  his  pos 
session,  to  Brigadier-General  Wilkinson.    When  | 
this  order  reached  his  camp,  there  were  one  hun-  ^ 
dred  and  fifty  on  the  sick  report,  fifly-six  of  whom  j 
were  unable  to  raise  their  heads,  and  almost  the  i 
whole  of  them  destitute  of  the  means  of  defrav-  ' 


1 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON.  25  ^ 

ing  the  expenses  of  their  return.  The  conaeqncnco 
of  a  strict  compliance  with  the  secretary's  or-  , 
der  inevitably  would  have  been,  that  many  of  the 
sick  must  have  perished,  whilst  most  of  the  others, 
from  their  destitute  condition,  would,  of  necessity,  ] 
have  been  compelled  to  enlist  in  the  regular  army,  I 
under  General  Wilkinson.    Such  alternatives  were 
neither  congenial  with  their  general's  wishes,  nor  i 
Buch  as  they  had  expected,  on  adventuring  with  i 
him  in  the  service  of  their  country ;  he  had  carried 
thf  m  from  home,  and,  the  fate  of  war  and  disease  I 
apart,  it  was  his  duty,  he  believed,  to  bring  them 
back.    To  have  abandoned  them,  therefore,  at  i 
such  a  time,  and  under  such  circumstances,  would 
have  drawn  on  him  the  merited  censure  of  the  i 
most  deserving  part  of  his  feUow-citizens,  and  sen-  i 
eibly  wounded  his  own  generous  feelings.    Add  to  I 
this,  those  young  men  who  were  confined  by  sick- 
ness, learning  the  nature  of  the  order  he  had  re- 
ceived;  implored  him,  with  tears  in  their  eyes,  not 
to  abandon  them  in  so  great  an  extremity,  remind- 
ing him,  at  the  same  time,  of  his  assurances,  that 
he  would  be  to  them  as  a  father,  and  of  the  im- 
plicit confidence  they  had  placed  in  his  word.    This  i 
was  an  appeal,  which  it  would  have  been  difficult  * 
for  the  feelings  of  Jackson  to  have  resisted,  had  it 
been  without  the  support  of  other  weighty  consid- 
erations ;  but,  influenced  by  them  all,  he  had  no 
hesitation  in  coming  to  a  determination. 

Having  made  known  his  resolution  to  the  field- 
officers  of  his  division,  it  met,  apparently,  their  ap- 
probation ;  but,  after  retiring  from  his  presence,  I 
they  assembled  late  at  night,  in  secret  caucus,  and 
proceeded  to  recommend  to  him  an  abandonment  | 
of  his  purpose,  and  an  immediate  discharge  of  his  i 
3  ' 


I 


26  LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKifON. 


troops.  Great  as  was  the  astonishment,  which  this 
measure  excited  in  the  general,  it  produced  a  still 
higher  sentiment  of  indignation.  In  reply,  he  urg- 
ed the  duplicity  of  their  conduct,  and  reminded 
them,  that,  although,  to  those  who  possessed  funds 
and  health,  such  a  course  could  produce  no  incon- 
venience, yet  to  the  unfortunate  soldier,  who  was 
alike  destitute  of  both,  no  measure  could  be  more 
calamitous.  He  concluded  by  telling  them,  that 
his  resolution,  not  having  been  hastUy  concluded 
on,  nor  bottomed  on  light  considerations,  was  un- 
alterably fixed ;  and  that  immediate  preparations 
must  be  made  for  carrying  into  execution  the  de- 
termination he  had  formed. 

He  lost  no  time  in  making  known  to  the  sec- 
retary of  war  the  resolution  be  had  adopted ;  to 
disregard  the  order  he  had  given,  and  to  return  his 
army  to  the  place  where  he  had  received  it.  He 
painted  in  strong  terms  the  evils  which  the  course 
pursued  by  the  government  was  calculated  to  pro- 
duce, and  expressed  the  astonishment  he  felt,  that 
it  should  have  originated  with  the  famous  author 
of  the  "Newburg  Letters,"  the  once  redoubted 
advocate  of  soldiers'  rights. 

General  Wilkinson,  to  whom  the  public  proper- 
ty was  directed  to  be  delivered,  learning  the  de- 
termination which  had  been  taken  by  Jackson,  to 
march  his  troops  back,  and  to  take  with  them  so 
much  of  that  property  as  should  be  necessary  to 
their  return,  in  a  letter  of  solemn  and  mysterious 
import,  admonished  him  of  the  consequences  which 
were  before  him,  and  of  the  awful  and  dangerous 
responsibility  he  was  taking  on  himself,  by  so  bold 
a  measure.  General  Jackson  replied,  that  his  coa- 
duct,  and  the  consequences  to  which  it  might  lead. 


LIFE  OF  OENERAL  JACKSON. 


had  been  well  considered,  and  that  he  was  prepared  , 
to  abide  the  result,  whatever  it  might  be.    Wilkin-  i 
Bon  had  previously  given  orders  to  his  officers  to 
recruit  from  Jacksoii's  army  ;  they  were  advised,  , 
however,  on  their  first  appearance,  that  those  troops  ; 
were  already  in  the  service  of  the  United  States, 
and  that,  thus  situated,  they  should  not  be  enlisted  ;  ■ 
and  that  he  would  arrest  and  confine  the  first  offi- 
cer who  dared  to  enter  his  encampment  with  any 
such  object  in  view. 

The  quarter-master,   having  been  ordered  to 
furnish  the  necessary  transportation  for  the  con-  i 
veyance  of  the  sick  and  the  baggage  to  Tennes- 
see, immediately  set  about  the  performance  of  the  ' 
task ;  but,  as  tlie  event  proved,  with  not  the  least  | 
intention  of  executing  it    StUl,  he  continued  to 
keep  up  the  semblance  of  exertion  ;  and,  the  bet-  i 
ter  to  deceive,  the  very  day  before  that  which  had  i 
been  appointed  for  breaking  up  the  encampment,  i 
and  commencing  the  return  march,  eleven  wagons  ' 
arrived  there  by  his  order.    The  next  morning, 
however,  when  every  thing  was  about  to  be  packed  ' 
up,  acting  doubtless  from  orders,  and  intending  to  ^ 
produce  embarrassment,  the  quarter-master  entered  j 
the  encampment,  and  discharged  the  whole.    He  i 
was  grossly  mistaken  in  the  man  he  had  to  deal 
with,  and  had  now  played  his  tricks  too  far  to  be 
able  to  accomplish  the  object  which  he  had,  no 
doubt,  been  instructed  to  efiect  Disregarding 
their  dismissal,  so  evidently  designed  to  prevent  j 
his  marching  back  his  men,  General  Jackson  seiz- 
ed upon  these  wagons,  yet  within  his  lines,  and  com-  i 
peUed  them  to  proceed  to  the  transportation  of  his 
sick.    It  deserves  to  be  recollected,  that  this  quar-  , 
ter-master,  so  soon  as  he  received  directions  for 


2^  1.IKE  or  OEni:R>r  Jackson. 

furnishing  transportation,  had  despatched  an  ex- 
press to  General  Wilkinson ;  and  there  can  be  but 
little  doubt,  that  the  course  of  duplicity  he  after- 
wards pursued,  was  a  concerted  plan  between  him 
and  that  general,  to  defeat  the  design  of  Jackson ; 
compel  him  to  abandon  the  course  he  had  adopted ; 
and,  in  this  way,  draw  to  the  regular  army  many 
of  the  soldiers,  who,  from  necessity,  would  be  driv- 
en to  enlist.  In  this  attempt  they  were  fortunately 
disappointed.  Adhering  to  his  original  purpose, 
he  successfully  resisted  every  stratagem  of  Wilkin- 
son, and  marched  the  whole  of  his  division  to  the 
section  of  country  whence  they  had  been  drawn, 
and  dismissed  them  from  service,  aa  he  had  been 
instructed. 

To  present  an  example  that  might  buoy  up  the 
sinking  spirits  of  his  troops  in  the  arduous  march, 
he  yielded  up  his  horses  to  the  sick,  and,  trudging 
on  foot,  encountered  all  the  hardships  that  were 
met  by  the  soldiers.  It  was  at  a  time  of  the  year, 
when  the  roads  were  extremely  bad,  and  the 
swamps,  lying  in  their  passage,  deep  and  full ;  yet, 
under  these  circumstances,  he  placed  before  hia 
troops  an  example  of  patience  and  hardship,  that 
lulled  to  silence  all  complaints,  and  won  to  him, 
still  stronger  than  before,  the  esteem  and  respect 
of  every  one.  On  arriving  at  Nashville,  he  com- 
municated to  the  president  of  the  United  States 
the  course  he  had  pursued,  and  the  reasons  that 
had  induced  it.  If  it  had  become  necessary,  he 
had  sufficient  grounds  on  which  he  could  have  jus- 
tified his  conduct.  Had  he  suffered  General  Wil- 
kinson to  have  accomplished  what  was  clearly  his 
intention,  although  it  was  an  event  which  might, 
at  tbe  moment,  have  benefited  the  service,  by  add- 


LIFE   or  GENERAL  JACKSON.  29 

in^  an  increased  strength  to  the  army,  yet  the  ex- 
ample would  have  been  of  so  serious  and  excep- 
tionable a  character,  that  injury  would  have  been 
the  final  and  unavoidable  result.  His  conduct,  ter 
rible  as  it  first  appeared,  was  in  the  end  approved, 
and  the  expenses  incurred  directed  to  be  paid  by 
the  government 
3» 


ao 


I.IFK   OF   OENKRAfc  JACKSON 


CHAPTER  II, 

iruHan  preparation  for  hostHities. —  Tecumseh  arrives  amongst  the  | 

southern  tribes ;  his  intrignes. — Civil  tears  of  the  Creeks. — De-  1 
slntction  of,  aitd  butclvery  at  Fort  Mimms. — Expedition  against 
the  IiidiuTis. — Jackson  unites  with  the  army,  and  enters  tlie  em-  i 
my's  country. — Scarcity  of  supplies  in  his  camp. — Learns  tlu 
savages  are  iniboflied. — Seeks  to  form  a  junction  witli  tite  East 
Tennessee  dii'ision. — Detaclies  General  Coffee  across  the  Coosa.  | 
—Baltle  of  TallushaUhee.  I 

The  volunteers,  who  had  descended  the  river,  i 
having  been  discliarged  early  in  May,  there  was  j 
little  expectation  that  they  would  again  be  called  , 
for.    Tennessee  was  too  remotely  situated  in  the  ' 
interior  of  the  country  to  expect  their  services 
would  be  required  for  her  defence,  and  hitherto 
the  British  had  discovered  no  serious  intention  of 
waging  operations  against  any  part  of  Louisiana. 
Their  repose,  however,  was  not  of  long  duration. 
The  Creek  Indians,  inhabiting  the  country  lying  • 
between  the  Chatahochee  and  Tombigbee,  and  ex-  ; 
tending  from  the  Tennessee  River  to  the  Florida  j 
line,  had  lately  manifested  strong  symptoms  of  : 
hostility  towards  the  United  States,  from  which 
they  had  received  yearly  pensions,  and  every  as-  ' 
sistance  which  the  most  liberal  policy  could  bestow,  j 
This  disposition  was  greatly  strengthened,  through  | 
means  used  by  the  northern  Indians,  who  were  ' 
then  making  preparations  for  a  war  against  the  | 
United  States,  and  who  wished  to  engage  the  I 
■outhern  tribes  in  the  same  enterprise. 

An  artful  impostor  had,  about  this  time,  sprung 
np  amongst  tho  Shawnees,  who,  by  passing  for  m  \ 


UFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON. 


prophet,  commissioned  by  the  "  Great  Spirit"  to  j 
communicate  his  mandates  to  his  red  chUdren,  had 
acquired,  among  his  own  and  the  neighbouring 
tribes,  astonishing  influence.    Clothed,  as  thoy  be-  1 
lieved  him  to  be,  with  such  high  powers,  they  lis-  j 
tened  to  liis  extravagant  doctrines,  and  in  them  fully  i 
confided.    He  succeeded  in  kindling  a  rage  against  1 
the  Anglo-Americans,  which  soon  after  burst  forth  ■ 
in  acts  of  destructive  violence.    His  brother,  Te-  | 
cumseh,  who  became  so  famous  during  the  war,  and  I 
who  was  killed  subsequently,  at  the  battle  of  the  < 
Thames,  was  despatched  to  the  southern  tribes,  to  \ 
excite  in  them  the  same  temper.    To  the  Creeks,  ; 
by  far  the  most  numerous  and  powerful,  he  directed  > 
his  principal  attention.    Having  entered  their  na-  i 
tion,  some  time  in  the  spring  of  1812,  he  repaired  j 
to  Tookaubatcha,  where  he  had  repeated  confer-  i 
eiices  with  the  chiefs;  but,  not  meeting  with  the  ' 
encouragement  he  expected,  returned  to  the  Ala-  | 
bama,  which  he  had  previously  visited,  and  there  i 
commenced  operations.  I 
Finding  there  several  leaders  of  great  influence,  | 
who  entered  into  his  views,  he  was  enabled  to  carry 
on  his  schemes  with  greater  success.    Deriving  his 
powers  from  his  brother,  the  Prophet,  whose  extra- 
ordinary commission  and  endowments  were  well 
understood  by  all  the  neighbouring  tribes  in  the  ' 
south,  bis  authority  was  regarded  with  the  highest  ^ 
veneration.    He  strongly  interdicted  all  intercourse  i 
with  the  whites,  and  prevailed  on  the  greater  part 
of  the  Alabama  Indians  to  throw  aside  the  imple-  i 
ments  and  clothing  which  that  intercourse  had  fur-  ! 
nished,  and  return  again  to  their  savage  state,  from  ' 
which  he  represented  them  as  highly  culpable  for  ] 
hftving  suffered  themselves  to  be  estranged,  la 


1 


32  LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON. 


a  word,  no  means  were  left  untried  to  excite  them 
to  the  most  deadly  animosity  and  cruel  war.  To 
afford  additional  weight  to  his  councils,  this  de- 
signing missionary  gave  assurances  of  aid  and  sup- 
port from  Great  Bntain;  whose  power  and  riches 
he  represented  as  almost  without  limits,  and  quite 
sufficient  for  the  subjugation  of  the  United  States. 
So  considerable  an  influence  did  his  intrigues  and 
discourses  obtain  over  the  minds  of  many,  that  it 
was  with  difficulty  the  most  turbulent  of  them  could 
be  restrained  from  running  immediately  to  arms, 
and  committing  depredations  on  the  exposed  fron- 
tiers. This  hasty  measure,  however,  he  represent- 
ed as  calculated  to  defeat  the  great  plan  of  opera- 
tions which  he  was  labouring  to  concert ;  and  en- 
joined the  utmost  secrecy  and  quietness,  untU  the 
moment  should  arrive,  when,  all  their  preparations 
being  ready,  they  might  be  able  to  strike  a  deci- 
sive blow ;  in  the  mean  time,  they  were  to  be  indus- 
triously employed  in  collecting  arms  and  ammu- 
nition, and  other  necessary  implements  of  war. 

Having  ordained  a  chief  prophet,  whose  word 
was  to  be  regarded  as  infallible,  and  whose  direc- 
tions were  to  be  implicitly  followed,  and  established 
a  regular  gradation  of  inferior  dependants,  to  dis- 
seminate his  doctrines  through  the  different  parts 
of  the  nation,  Tecumseh  set  out  to  his  own  tribe, 
accompanied  by  several  of  the  natives. 

From  this  time,  a  regular  communication  was 
kept  up  between  the  Creeks  and  the  northern 
tribes,  in  relation  to  the  great  enterprise  which 
they  were  concerting  together;  whilst  the  parties 
carrying  it  on  committed  frequent  depredations  on 
the  frontier  settlers.  By  one  of  these,  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1812,  several  families  had  been  murdered 


LIPE  or  GENERAL  JACKSON. 


33 


in  a  shocking  manner,  near  the  mouth  of  the  Ohio; 
and,  shortly  afterwards,  another  party,  entering  the 
limits  of  Tennessee,  under  circumstances  of  still 
greater  barbarity,  butchered  two  families  of  women 
and  children.  Similar  outrages  were  committed  on 
the  frontiers  of  Georgia,  and  were  continued,  at 
intervals,  on  the  inhabitants  of  Tennessee,  along 
her  southern  boundary. 

These  multiplied  outrages,  at  length,  attracted 
the  attention  of  the  general  government,  and  ap- 
plication was  made,  through  their  agent,  (Colonel 
Hawkins,)  to  the  principal  chiefs  of  the  nation, 
who,  desirous  of  preserving  their  friendly  relation 
with  the  United  States,  resolved  to  punish  the 
murderers  with  death ;  and  immediately  appointed 
a  party  of  warriors  to  carry  their  determination 
into  execution.  No  sooner  was  this  done,  than  the 
spirit  of  the  greater  part  of  the  nation,  which,  from 
policy,  had  been  kept,  in  a  considerable  degree, 
dormant,  suddenly  burst  into  a  flame,  and  kindled 
mto  civil  war. 

It  was  not  difficult  for  the  friends  of  those  mur- 
derers, who  had  been  put  to  death,  to  prevail  on 
others,  who  secretly  applauded  the  acts  for  which 
they  suffered,  to  enter  warmly  into  their  resent 
ments  against  those  who  had  been  concerned  in 
bringmg  them  to  punishment.  An  occasion  aa 
they  believed,  was  now  presented  which  fully  au- 
thorized them  to  throw  aside  all  those  injunctions 
of  secrecy  imposed  on  them  by  Tecumseh  and 
their  prophets.  They  now  resolved  to  lay  aside  all 
restraint,  and  execute  at  once  their  insatiate  and 
long-projected  vengeance,  not  only  on  the  white 
people,  but  on  those  of  their  own  nation,  who,  by 


34  LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON. 


this  last  act  of  retaliatory  justice,  had  unequivocallj 
shown  a  disposition  to  preserve  their  ^iendship 
with  the  former.  The  war  clubs*  were  immedi- 
ately seen  in  every  section  of  the  nation ;  but  more 
particularly  among  the  numerous  hordes  residing 
near  Alabama.  Brandishing  these  in  their  hands, 
they  rushed,  in  the  first  instance,  on  those  of  their 
own  countrymen  who  had  shown  a  disposition  to 
preserve  their  relations  with  the  United  States,  and 
obliged  them  to  retire  towards  the  white  settle- 
ments, and  place  themselves  in  forts,  to  escape  the 
first  ebullition  of  their  rage.  Encouraged  by  this 
success,  and  their  numbers,  which  hourly  increas- 
ed, and  infatuated  to  the  highest  degree  by  the 
predictions  of  their  propliets,  who  assured  them  that 
the  "Great  Spirit"  was  on  their  side,  and  would 
enable  them  to  triumph  over  all  their  enemies,  they 
began  to  make  immediate  preparations  for  extend- 
ing their  ravages  to  the  white  settlements.  Fort 
Mimms,  situated  in  the  Tensaw  settlement,  in  the 
Mississippi  territory,  was  the  first  point  destined  to 
satiate  their  vengeance.  It  contained,  at  that  time, 
about  one  hundred  and  fifty  men,  under  the  command 
of  Major  Beasley,  besides  a  considerable  number  of 
women  and  children,  who  had  betaken  themiselves 
to  it  for  security.  Having  collected  a  supply  of 
ammunition  from  the  Spaniards  at  Pensacola,  and 
assembled  their  warriors,  to  the  number  of  six  or 


*  Instruments  used  by  the  Indian  tribes  on  commencing  hos- 
tilities; and  which,  when  painted  red,  they  consider  a  declaration 
of  war.  They  are  foiTOed  of  a  stick,  about  eighteen  inches  in 
length,  with  a  strong  piece  of  sharp  iron  affixea  at  the  end,  and 
resemble  a  hatchet.  They  lise  them  principally  in  pursuit,  and 
after  tliey  have  bees  able  to  ialroduce  coamsiun  into  the  ranks 
of  an  enemy. 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON. 


seven  hundred,  the  war  party,  commanded  by  ' 
Weatherford,  a  distinguished  chief  of  the  nation,  on 
the  30th  of  August,  commenced  their  assault  on  the  I 
fort ;  and,  having  succeeded  in  carrying  it,  put  to 
death    nearly  three  hundred  persons,  including 
women  and  children,  with  the  most  savage  barbari- 
ty.   The  slaughter  was  indiscriminate ;  mercy  was 
extended  to  none  ;  and  the  tomahawk,  at  the  same 
stroke,  often  cleft  the  mother  and  the  child.  But 
seventeen  of  the  whole  number  in  the  fort  escaped, 
to  bring  intelligence  of  the  dreadful  catastrophe.  | 
This  monstrous  and  unprovoked  outrage  was  no 
sooner  known  in  Tennessee,  than  the  whole  state 
was  thrown  into  a  ferment.    Considerable  excite-  | 
ment  had  already  been  produced  by  brutalities  of  i 
earlier  date,  and  measures  had  been  adopted  by  j 
the  governor,  in  conformity  with  instructions  from 
the  secretary  of  war,  for  commencing  a  campaign  | 
against  them ;  but  the  massacre  at  Fort  Mimms,  I 
which  threatened  to  be  followed  by  the  entire  de- 
struction of  the  Mobile  and  Tombigbee  settlements,  ' 
inspired  a  deep  and  universal  sentiment  of  solici- 
tude, and  an  earnest  wish  for  speedy  and  effectual 
operations.    The  anxiety  felt  on  the  occasion  was  ' 
greatly  increased  from  an  apprehension  that  Gene- 
ral Jackson  would  not  be  able  to  command.  He 
was  the  only  man,  known  in  the  state,  who  was 
believed  qualified  to  discharge  the  arduous  duties 
of  the  station,  and  who  could  carry  with  hira  the  I 
complete  confidence  of  his  soldiers.    He  was  at  ' 
this  time  seriously  indisposed,  and  confined  to  hia 
room,  with  a  fractured  arm ;  but,  although  this  ap-  | 
preheDsion  was  seriously  indulged,  arrangements  ; 
were  in  progress,  and  n  easures  industriously  taken. 


96  LlfS  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON. 

to  prepare  and  press  the  expedition  with  every  pos- 
sible despatch. 

A  numerous  collection  of  respectable  citizens,  I 
who  convened  at  Nashville  on  the  18th  of  Septem-  I 
ber,  for  the  purpose  of  devising  the  most  effectual 
ways  and  means  of  affording  protection  to  their 
brethren  in  distress,  after  conferring  with  the  gov- 
ernor and  Generafl  Jackson,  who  was  still  confined 
to  his  room,  strongly  advised  the  propriety  of  march- 
ing a  sufficient  army  into  the  heart  of  the  Creek  na- 
tion ;  and  accordingly  recommended  this  measure, 
with  great  earnestness,  to  the  legislature,  which, 
in  a  few  days  afterwards,  commenced  its  session. 
That  body,  penetrated  with  the  same  sentiments 
which  animated  the  whole  country,  immediately 
enacted  a  law,  authorizing  the  executive  to  call  into 
the  field  thirty-five  hundred  of  the  militia,  to  be 
marched  against  the  Indians ;  and,  to  guard  against 
all  difficulties,  in  the  event  the  general  govern- 
ment should  omit  to  adopt  them  into  their  service,  ' 
three  hundred  thousand  dollars  were  voted  for  their  i 
support.  j 

The  settlers  were  fleeing  to  the  interior,  and 
every  day  brought  intelligence  that  the  Creeks,  | 
collected  in  considerable  force,  were  bending  their  ! 
course  towards  the  frontiers  of  Tennessee.    The  j 
governor  now  issued  an  order  to  General  Jackson,  i 
who,  notwithstanding  the  state  of  his  health,  had  j 
determined  to  assume  the  command,  requiring  him  ] 
to  call  out,  and  rendezvous  at  Fayetteville,  in  the  | 
shortest  possible  time,  two  thousand  of  the  militia  ^ 
and  volunteers  of  his  division,  to  repel  any  invasion 
that  might  be  contemplated.    Colonel  Coffee,  itt 
addition  to  five  hundred  cavalry,  aiready  raised,  un- 
der his  command,  was  authorized  to  organize  ani  j 


1 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON. 


37 


receive  into  bus  regiment  any  mounted  riflemen 
that  might  make  a  tender  of  their  se<vices. 

Having  received  these  orders,  Jackson  hastened 
to  give  themefiect;  and  with  thid  object  appealed 
to  those  volunteers,  who,  with  him,  had  lieretofore 
descended  the  Mississippi  to  Natchez.  He  urged 
them  to  appear  at  the  rendezvous,  on  the  4th  of 
October,  equipped  for  active  service.  He  pointed 
out  the  imperious  necessity  which  demanded  their 
services,  and  urged  them  to  be  punctual ;  for  their 
frontiers  were  threatened  by  a  savage  foe.  In  the 
mean  time,  until  this  force  could  be  collected  and 
organized,  Colonel  CoflFee,  with  the  force  then  un- 
der his  command,  and  such  additional  mounted 
riflemen  as  could  be  attached  at  a  short  notice, 
was  directed  to  hasten  forward  to  the  neighbourhood 
of  Huntsville,  and  occupy  some  eligible  position  for 
the  defence  of  the  frontier,  until  the  infantry  should 
arrive ;  when  it  was  contemplated,  by  tlie  nearest 
possible  route,  to  press  on  to  Fort  St.  Stephen,  with 
a  view  to  the  protection  and  defence  of  Mississippi. 

Every  exertion  was  now  made  to  hasten  the  prep- 
arations for  a  vigorous  campaign.  Orders  were 
given  to  the  quarter-master,  to  furnish  the  neces- 
sary munitions,  with  the  proper  transportation  ;  and 
to  the  contractors,  to  provide  ample  supplies  of  pro- 
visions. The  day  of  their  rendezvous  being  arriv- 
ed, and  the  general  not  being  sufficiently  recovered 
to  attend  in  person,  he  forwarded  by  his  aid-de- 
camp. Major  Reid,  an  address,  to  be  read  to  the 
troops,  accompanied  by  an  order  for  the  establish- 
ment of  the  police  of  the  camp. 

For  the  police  of  his  camp,  he  aimoanced  the 
fbllowing  order  : 
4 


3S  UFB  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON- 


"The  chain  of  sentinels  will  be  marked,  and  the 
sentries  posted,  precisely  at  ten  o'clock  to-day. 

"No  sutler  will  be  suffered  to  seU  spirituous 
liquors  to  any  soldier,  ••vitliout  permission,  in  writ- 
ing, from  a  commissioned  officer,  under  the  penal- 
ties prescribed  by  the  rules  and  articles  of  war. 

"No  citizen  will  be  permitted  to  pass  the  chain 
of  sentinels,  after  retreat  beat  in  the  evening,  until 
reveille  in  the  morning.  Drunkenness,  the  bane  of 
all  orderly  encampments,  is  positively  forbidden, 
both  in  officers  and  privates:  officers,  under  the 
penalty  of  immediate  arrest;  and  privates,  of  being 
placed  under  guard,  tjiere  to  remain  until  liberated 
by    court  martial. 

"At  reveille  beat,  all  officers  and  soldiers  are  to 
appear  on  parade,  with  their  arms  and  accoutre- 
ments in  proper  order. 

"On  parade,  silence,  the  duty  of  a  soldier,  u 
positively  commanded. 

"No  officer  or  soldier  is  to  sleep  out  of  camp 
but  by  permission  obtained." 

These  rules,  to  those  who  had  scarcely  yet  pass- 
ed the  line  that  separates  the  citizen  from  the  sol 
dier,  and  who  had  not  yet  laid  aside  the  notions  of 
self-sovereignty,  had  the  appearance  of  too  much 
rigour ;  but  the  general  well  knew,  that  the  expe- 
dition in  which  they  were  embarked  involved  much 
hazard ;  and  that,  although  such  lively  feelings  were 
manifested  now,  yet,  when  hardships  pressed,  these 
might  ce  ase. 

Impatient  to  join  his  division,  although  his  health 
was  far  from  being  restored,  his  arm  only  begin- 
ning to  heal,  the  general,  in  a  few  days  afterwards, 
set  out  for  the  encampment,  and  reached  it  no  the 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON. 


39 


7th  Finding,  on  his  arrival,  that  the  requisition 
was  not  complete,  either  in  the  number  of  men,  or 
the  necessary  equipments,  measures  were  instantly 
taken  to  remedy  the  deficiency.  Orders  were  di 
rected  to  the  several  brigadiers  in  his  division,  to 
hasten  immediately  their  respective  quotas,  fully 
equipped  for  active  operations. 

Circumstances  did  not  permit  him  to  remain  at 
this  place  long  enough  to  have  the  delinquencies 
complained  of  remedied,  and  the  ranks  of  his  army 
filled.  Colonel  Coffee  had  proceeded  with  his 
mounted  volunteers  to  cover  Huntsville,  and  give 
security  to  the  frontiers,  where  alarm  greatly  pre- 
vailed. On  the  night  of  the  8th,  a  letter  was  re- 
reived  from  him,  dated  two  days  before,  advising, 
that  two  Indians,  belonging  to  the  peace  party,  had 
just  arrived  at  the  Tennessee  River,  from  Chinna- 
by's  Fort,  on  the  Coosa,  with  information  that  the 
war  party  had  despatched  eight  hundred  or  a  thou- 
sand of  their  warriors  to  attack  the  frontiers  of 
Georgia;  and,  with  the  remainder  of  their  forces, 
were  marching  against  HuntsviUe,  or  Fort  Hamp- 
ton. In  consequence  of  this  intelligence,  exertions 
were  made  to  hasten  a  movement.  Late  on  the  fol- 
lowing night,  another  express  arrived,  confirming 
the  former  statement,  and  representing  the  enemy, 
in  great  force,  to  be  rapidly  approaching  the  Ten- 
nessee. Orders  were  now  given  for  preparing  the 
line  of  march,  and  by  nine  o'clock  the  next  day  the 
whole  division  was  in  motion.  They  had  not  pro- 
ceeded many  miles,  when  they  were  met  with  in 
telligCTice  that  Colonel  Gibson,  who  had  been  sent 
out  by  Coffee  to  reconnoitre  the  movements  of  the 
enemy,  had  been  killed  by  their  advance.  A  strong 
desire  had  been  manifested  to  be  led  forward :  that 


40 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON. 


desire  was  now  strengthened  by  the  information  just 
received ;  ajid  it  was  with  difficulty  their  emotiont 
could  be  restrained.  They  accelerated  their  pace 
and  before  eight  o'clock  at  night  arrived  at  Hunts- 
ville,  a  distance  of  thirty-two  miles.  Learning 
here,  that  the  information  was  erroneous  which  had 
occasioned  so  hasty  a  movement,  the  general  en- 
camped his  troops;  having  intended  to  march  them 
that  night  to  the  Tennessee  River  had  it  been  con- 
firmed. The  next  day  the  line  of  march  was  re- 
sumed. The  influence  of  the  late  excitement  was 
now  visible  in  the  lassitude  which  followed  its  re- 
moval. Proceeding  slowly,  they  crossed  the  Ten- 
nessee, at  Ditto's  Landing,  and  united  in  the  eve* 
ning  with  Colonel  Coffee's  regiment,  which  had 
previously  occupied  a  commanding  bluff,  on.  the 
south  bank  of  the  river.  From  this  place,  in  a  few 
days  afterwards,  Jackson  detached  Colonel  Coffee, 
with  seven  hundred  men,  to  scour  the  Black  War- 
rior, a  stream  running  from  the  north-east,  and 
emptying  into  the  Tombigbee ;  on  which  were  sup- 
posed to  be  settled  several  populous  villages  of  the 
enemy.  He  himself  remained  at  this  encampment 
a  week,  \ising  the  utmost  pains  in  training  his 
troops  for  service,  and  labouring  incessantly  to  pro- 
cure the  necessary  supplies  for  a  campaign,  which 
he  had  determined  to  carry  directly  into  the  heart 
of  the  enemy's  country. 

With  General  Cocke,  who  commanded  the  divis- 
ion of  East  Tennessee  militia,  an  arrangement  had 
been  made  the  preceding  month,  in  which  he  had 
engaged  to  furnish  large  quantities  of  bread  stuff, 
at  Ditto's  Landing.  The  facility  of  procuring  it  in 
that  quarter,  and  the  convenient  transportation  af- 
forded by  the  river,  left  no  doubt  on  the  mind  o< 


LIFE  OP  GENERAL  JACKSON.  41 

Jackson  but  that  the  engagement  would  be  puiictu> 
ally  complied  with.  To  provide,  however,  against 
the  bare  possibility  of  a  failure,  and  to  be  guarded 
against  all  contingencies  that  might  happen,  he  had 
addressed  his  applications  to  various  other  sources. 
He  had,  on  the  same  subject,  written  in  the  most 
pressing  manner  to  the  governor  of  Georgia,  with 
whose  forces  it  was  proposed  to  act  in  concert;  to 
Colonel  Meigs,  agent  to  the  Cherokee  nation  of  In- 
dians, and  to  General  While,  who  commanded  the 
advance  of  the  East  Tennessee  troops.  Previously 
to  his  arrival  at  Huntsville,  he  had  received  assur- 
ances from  the  two  latter,  that  a  considerable  sup- 
ply of  flour,  for  the  use  of  his  army,  had  been  pro 
cured,  and  was  then  at  Hiwassee,  where  boats  were 
ready  to  transport  it.  Fioni  General  Cocke,  about 
the  same  time,  a  letter  was  received  ;  stating  that 
a  hundred  and  fifty  barrels  of  flour  were  then  on 
the  way  to  his  encampment;  and  expressing  a  be- 
lief, that  he  should  be  able  to  procure,  and  forward 
on  mimediately,  a  thousand  barrels  more.  With 
pressing  importunity,  he  had  addressed  himself  to 
the  contractors,  and  they  had  given  him  assurances, 
that,  on  his  crossing  the  Tennessee,  they  would  be 
prepared  with  twenty  days'  rations  for  his  whole 
command  ;  but  finding,  on  his  arrival  at  Ditto's,  that 
their  preparations  were  not  in  such  forwardness  as 
he  had  been  led  to  expect,  he  was  compelled,  for  a 
time,  to  suspend  any  active  and  general  operations. 
Calculating,  however,  with  great  confidence  on 
exertions,  which,  he  had  been  promised,  should  be 
unremitting,  and  on  the  speedy  arrival  of  those  sup- 
plies descending  the  nver,  which  had  been  already 
unaccountably  delayed^  he  hoped,  in  a  few  days,  to 
be  placed  in  a  situation  to  act  efficiently.  Whilst 
4* 


42  LIFE  OF  GENBitAl,  JACKSON. 


he  was  encouraged  by  these  expectations,  and  only  i 
waiting  their  fulfilment,  tliat  he  might  advance,  j 
Shelocta,  tlie  son  of  Cliinnaby,  a  principal  chief 
among  the  friendly  Creeks,  arrived  at  his  camp,  ; 
to  solicit  his  speedy  movement  for  the  relief  of  hia  | 
father's  fort,  which  was  then  threatened  by  a  con-  ^ 
siderable  body  of  the  war  party,  who  had  advanced  ; 
to  the  neighbourhood  of  the  Ten  Islands,  on  the 
Coosa.     Influenced    by  his  representations,  and 
anxious  to  extend  relief,  Jackson,  on  the  18th,  gave  j 
orders  for  taking  up  the  line  of  march  on  the  fol-  | 
lowing  day,  and  notified  the  contractors  of  tliis  ar-  ^ 
rangement,  that  they  might  be  prepared  to  issue,  j 
immediately,  such  supplies  as  they  had  on  hand ; 
but,  to  his  great  astonishment,  he  then,  for  the  first  ' 
time,  was  apprized  of  their  entire  inability  to  sup- 
ply him  whilst  on  his  march.    Having  drawn  what  I 
they  had  in  their  power  to  furnish,  amounting  to  ' 
only  a  few  days'  rations,  they  we»*  deposed  from  | 
office,  and  others  appointed,  on  whoee  industry  and  ' 
performance,  he  believed,  lie  mijiC*.  more  safely  ! 
rely.    The  scarcity  of  his  provisions,  ..lowever,  at  a 
moment  like  the  present,  when  therw  was  every  ap-  | 
pearance  that  the  enemy  might  be  met,  and  a  blow  ! 
stricken  to  advantage,  was  not  aufRcient  to  wave  ' 
his  deterrainacion.    The  route  bm  would  have  to  j 
make,  to  gain  the  fort,  lay,  for  a  »»»nsiderable  dis- 
tance, up  the  river.    He  determi»wd  to  proceed ;  ' 
and,  having  passed  his  army  and  baggage  wagona  | 
over  several  mountains  of  stupendous  size,  aind  j 
such  as  were  thought  almost  impassable  by  foot  I 
passengers,  he  arrived,  on  the  22d  of  October,  at  j 
Thompson's  Creek,  which  empties  into  the  Tennes-  i 
see,  twenty-four  miles  above  Ditto's.    At  this  plac*  | 
he  proposed  the  establishmeBt  of  t  vemanent  de  j 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON. 


pot,  for  the  reception  of  supplies,  to  be  sent  either  i 
up  or  down  the  river.    Disappoiiited  in  the  hopes 
with  which  he  had  adventured  on  his  march,  he  re- 
mained here  several  days,  in  expectation  of  the 
boats  that  were  coming  to  his  relief.    Thus  harass- 
ed at  the  first  onset,  by  difficulties  wholly  unex-  j 
pccted,  and  which,  from  the  numerous  and  strong  I 
assurances  received,  he  could  by  no  means  have  i 
calculated  on;  fearing,  too,  that  the  same  disregard 
of  duty  might  induce  a  continuance,  he  lost  no  time  i 
in  opening  every  avenue  to  expedient,  that  the  i 
chances  of  future  faihire  might  be  diminislied.    To  ^ 
General  Flournoy,  who  commanded  at  Mobile,  he  | 
applied,  urging  liim  to  procure  bread  stuff,  and  have  j 
it  forwarded  up  the  Alabama  by  the  time  he  should  i 
arrive  on  that  river.    The  agent  of  the  Choctaws,  | 
Colonel  M'Kee,  who  was  then  on  the  Tombigbee,  j 
was  addressed  in  the  same  style  of  entreaty.  Ex- 
presses were  despatched  to  General  White,  who^ 
with  the  advance  of  the  East  Tennessee  division,  , 
had  arrived  at  the  Look-out  Mountain,  in  the  Cher- 
okee nation,  urging  hmi,  by  all  means,  to  hasten  on 
the  supplies.    The  assistance  of  the  governor  of  j 
Tennessee  was  also  earnestly  besought.  To»facili- 
tale  exertion,  and  to  assure  success,  every  thing 
within  liis  reach  was  attempted:  several  persons  of  j 
tveallh  and  patriotism,  in  JNIadison  county,  were  so- 
licited to  afford  the  contractors  all  the  aid  in  their  \ 
power  ;  and,  to  induce  them  more  re-^dily  to  extend  | 
it,  their  deep  interest,  immediately  at  stake,  was 
pointed  to,  and  their  deplorable  and  dangerous  situ- 
ation, should  necessity  compel  him  to  withdraw  his  ] 
army,  and  leave  them  exposed  to  the  mercy  of  the  . 
savages.  I 


44  LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON.  j 

I 

Whilst  these  measures  were  tak'ng,  two  run  ■ 
ners,  from  Turkey  town,  an  Indian  village,  des- 
patched hy  Path-killer,  a  chief  of  the  Cherokees,  | 
arrived  at  tlie  camp.    They  brought  information,  ] 
tliat  the  enemy,  from  nine  of  the  hostile  towns, 
were  assembling  in  great  force   near  the  Ten  . 
Islands ;   and  solicited  that  immediate  assistance  I 
should  be  afforded  the  friendly  Creeks  and  Chero-  | 
kees,  in  their  neighbourhood,  who  were  exposed  to  ' 
such  imminent  danger.    His  want  of  provisions 
was  not  yet  remedied ;  but,  distributing  the  partial 
supply  that  was  on  hand,  he  resolved  to  proceed,  in 
expectation  that  the  relief  he  had  so  earnestly 
looked  for,  would,  in  a  little  while,  arrive,  and  be  i 
forwarded  to  him. 

He  instructed  General  White  to  form  a  junction 
with  him,  and  to  hasten  oii  all  the  supplies  in  his 
power  to  command ;  with  about  six  days'  rations  ! 
of  meat,  and  less  than  two  of  meal,  he  again  put  i 
his  army  in  motion  to  meet  the  enemy.    Although  i 
there  was  some  hazard  in  advancing  into  a  country  j 
where  relief  was  not  to  be  expected  with  such  j 
limited  preparation,  yet,  believing  that  his  contrac-  I 
tors,  lately  installed,  would  exert  themselven  to  the  | 
utmost  to  forward  supplies,  and  that,  amidst  the  va-  ! 
riety  of  arrangements  made,  all  could  not  fail,  and  i 
well  aware  that  his  delaying  longer  might  be  pra 
ductive  of  many  disadvantages,  his  determination 
was  taken  to  set  out  immediately  in  quest  of  tb»  1 
enemy.    He  replied  to  the  Path-killer,  by  his  run-  | 
nets,  that  he  should  proceed  directly  for  the  Coosa,  j 
and  solicited  him  to  be  diligent  in  making  discove-  i 
nes  of  the  situation,  and  collected  forces  of  the  | 
savages,  and  to  give  him.  as  early  as  posiiible  tb*  { 
result  of  his  inquiries.  I 


i 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  iACKSON. 


45 


«  The  hostile  Creeks,"  he  remarked  to  him,  "  will 
not  attack  you  until  they  have  had  a  brush  with  me  , 
and  that,  I  think,  will  put  them  out  of  the  notion  ol 
fighting  for  some  time."  He  requested,  if  he  had 
or  coald  any  how  procure,  provisions  for  his  army 
that  he  would  send  them,  or  advise  where  they 
might  be  had  :  "  You  shall  be  well  paid,  and  have 
my  thanks  into  the  bargain.  I  shall  stand  most  in 
reed  of  corn  meal,  but  shall  be  thankful  for  an] 
kind  of  provisions ;  and,  indeed,  for  whatever  wiJ! 
support  bfe." 

The  army  had  advanced  but  a  short  distance 
vhen  unexpected  embarrassments  were  again  pre- 
sented. Information  was  received,  by  which  i( 
was  clearly  ascertained,  that  the  present  contrac 
tors,  who  had  been  so  certainly  relied  on,  could 
not,  with  all  their  exertions,  procure  the  necessary 
supplies.  Major  Rose,  in  the  quarter-master's  de- 
partment, who  had  been  sent  into  Madison  county, 
to  aid  them  in  their  endeavours,  having  satisfierf 
himself,  as  well  from  their  own  admissions  as  froa 
evidence,  that  their  want  of  funds,  and  consequem 
want  of  credit,  rendered  them  a  very  unsafe  de- 
pendence, had  returned,  and  disclosed  the  facts  tc 
the  general.  He  stated,  that  there  were  there 
persons  of  fortune  and  industry,  who  might  be 
confided  in,  and  who  would  be  willing  to  contract 
for  the  army  if  it  were  necessary.  Jackson  lost 
110  time  in  embracing  this  plan,  and  gave  the  con- 
tract to  Mr.  Pope,  upon  whose  exertions,  he  hoped, 
every  reliance  might  be  safely  reposed.  To  the 
otlier  contractors  he  wrote,  informing  them  of  the 
change  that  had  been  made. 

"  I  am  advised,"  said  he,  "  that  you  have  can- 
didly acknowledged  you  have  it  not  in  your  power 


46 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON. 


1 


to  execute  the  contract  in  which  you  haire  engaged. 
Do  not  think  I  mean  to  cast  any  reflection — very 
far  from  it.    I  am  exceedingly  pleatied  with  the 
exertions  you  have  made,  and  feel  myself  under  j 
many  obligations  of  gratitude  for  them.    From  the 
admissions  you  have  been  candid  enough  to  make, 
the  scarcity  which  already  begins  to  appear  in 
camp,  and  the  difficulties  you  are  likely  to  encoun- 
ter, in  effecting  your  engagements,  I  am  apprehen- 
sive I  should  be  doing  injustice  to  tlie  army  I  com- 
mand, were  I  to  rely  for  support  on  your  exertions — 
great  as  I  know  them  to  be.    Whatever  concerns  I 
myself,  I  may  manage  with  any  generosity  or  I 
indulgence  I  please  ;  but  in  acting  for  my  country, 
I  have  no  such  discretion." 

This  arrangement  being  made,  the  army  con- 
tinued its  march,  and,  having  arrived  within  a  few 
miles  of  the  Ten  Islands,  was  met  by  old  Chinnaby,  ^ 
a  leading  chief  of  the  Creek  nation,  and  sternly  op-  | 
posed  to  the  war  party.    He  brought  with  him,  and 
surrendered  up,  two  of  the  hostile  Creeks,  who  had 
been  lately  made  prisoners  by  his  party.    At  this 
place,  it  was  represented,  that  they  were  within 
sixteen  miles  of  the  enemy,  who  were  collected,  to 
the  number  of  a  thousand,  to  oppose  their  passage. 
This  information  was  UUle  relied  on,  and  afterwards 
proved  untrue.    Jackson  continued  his  route,  and 
in  a  few  days  reached  the  islands  of  the  Coosa;  ; 
having  been  detained  a  day  on  the  way,  for  the  j 
purpose  of  obtaining  small  supplies  of  corn  from 
the  neighbouring  Indians.    This  acquisition  to  the  J 
scanty  stock  on  hand,  whilst  it  afforded  subsistence 
for  the  present,  encouraged  his  hopes  for  the  future,  ; 
as  a  mean  of  temporary  resort,  should  his  other 
resources  fail.  ' 


UFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON.  47 


On  the  28th  of  October,  Colonel  Dyer,  who,  on 
the  march  to  the  Ten  Islands,  had  been  detached 
from  the  main  body,  with  two  hundred  cavalry,  to 
attack  Liittafutchce  town,  on  the  head  of  Canoe 
Creek,  which  empties  into  the  Coosa  from  the  west, 
returned,  bringing  with  him  twenty-nine  prisoners, 
men,  women,  and  children,  having  destroyed  the 
village. 

The  sanguine  expectations  indulged,  on  leaving 
Thompson's  Creek,  that  the  advance  of  the  East 
Tennessee  militia  would  hasten  to  unite  with  him, 
was  not  yet  realized.  The  express  hereto*bre  di- 
rected to  General  White  had  not  returned.  Jack- 
son, on  the  3 let,  despatched  another,  again  urging 
him  to  effect  a  speedy  junction,  and  to  bring  with 
him  all  the  bread  stuff  in  his  power  to  procure; 
feelingly  suggesting  to  him,  at  the  same  time,  the 
great  inconvenience  and  hazard,  to  which  he  had 
been  already  exposed,  for  the  want  of  punctuality 
in  himself  and  his  commanding  general.  Owing  to 
that  cause,  and  the  late  failures  of  his  contractors, 
he  represented  his  army  as  placed  in  a  very  pre- 
carious situation,  dependent,  in  a  great  measure, 
for  support,  on  the  exertions  which  they  might  be 
pleased  to  make ;  but  assured  him,  he  would  still, 
at  every  risk,  endeavour  to  effect  his  purpose  ;  and, 
at  aU  events,  was  resolved  to  hasten  to  the  accom- 
plishment of  the  object,  for  which  he  had  set  out 
Believing  the  co-operation  of  the  East  Tennessee 
troops  essential  to  this  end,  they  were  again  in- 
structed to  join  him  without  delay  ;  for  he  could 
not  conceive  it  to  be  correct  policy,  that  troops 
from  the  same  state,  pursuing  the  same  object, 
should  constitute  separate  and  distinct  armies,  and 
«ct  without  concert,  and  independently  of  each 


40  LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSOM. 


Other.    He  entertained  no  doubt  but  that  hiu  ordet  i 

would  be  promptiy  obeyed.  ' 

The  next  evening,  a  detachment,  which  had  been  | 

sent  out  ihe  day  before,  returned  to  camp,  bringing  i 

with  them,  besides  some  corn  and  beeves,  severa.  i 

negroes  ana  prisoners  of  the  war  party.  [ 

Learning  now  that  a  considerable  body  of  the 

enemy  had  posted  themselves  at  Tallushatchee,  on  i 

the  south  side  of  the  Coosa,  about  thirteen  miles  I 

distant,  General  CoflFee  was  detached,  with  nine  i 

hundrea  men,  to  attack  and  disperse  them.    With  | 

this  force  he  was  enabled,  through  the  direction  of  i 

an  Indian  pilot,  to  ford  the  Coosa,  at  the  Fish-dams,  j 

about  four  miles  above  the  islands  ;  and,  having  en-  j 

camped  beyond  it,  very  early  the  next  morning  ] 

proceeded  to  tne  execution  of  his  order.    Having  | 

arrived  wiiliiu  a  mile  and  a  half,  he  formed  his  | 

detachment  into  two  divisions,  and  directed  them  to  I 

march  so  as  to  encircle  the  town,  by  uniting  their  ' 

fronts  beyond  it.    The  enemy,  hearing  of  his  ap-  ' 

proach,  began  to  prepare  for  action,  announced  by  i 
beating  of  drums,  mingled  with  savage  yells  and 
war-whoops.    An  hour  after  sun-rise,  the  action 
was  commenced  by  Captain  Hammon's  and  Lieu- 
tenant Patterson  s  companies  of  spies,  who  had 

gone  within  the  circle  of  alignement,  for  the  pur-  | 

pose  of  drawing  the  Indians  from  their  buildings,  j 

No  sooner  had  these  companies  given  a  few  scat-  I 
tering  shot,  than  the  enemy  made  a  violent  charge. 

Compelled  to  give  way,  the  advance  guards  were  \ 

pursued  until  they  reached  the  main  body  of  the  1 

army,  which  immediately  charged  in  turn.    The  ' 

Indians  retreated,  firing  and  fighting  as  long  as  ] 
they  could  stand  or  sit,  without  manifesting  fear, 
or  soliciting  quarter.  Their  less  was  a  hundred 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON. 


and  eighty-six  killed ;  among  whom  were  a  few  ' 
women   and  children.     Eighty-four  women  and  | 
children  were  taken  prisoners,  towards  whom  the 
utmost  humanity  was  shown.    Of  the  Americans,  ' 
five  were  kUled,  and  forty-one  wounded.    Two  1 
were  killed  with  arrows,  which,  on  this  occasion, 
formed  a  principal  part  of  the  arms  of  the  Indians;  1 
each  one  having  a  bow  and  quiver,  which  he  used 
after  the  first  fire  of  his  gun,  until  an  opportunity  ! 
occurred  for  re-loading. 

Having  buried  his  dead,  and  provided  for  his  | 
wounded,  General  Coffee,  the  evening  of  the  same  | 
day,  united  with  the  main  army,  brmging  with  him 
about  forty  prisoners.  Of  the  residue,  a  part  were 
too  badly  wounded  to  be  removed,  and  were  there-  i 
fore  left,  with  a  sufficient  number  to  take  care  of  ; 
thejn.  ! 

From  the  manner  in  which  the  enemy  fought, 
the  killing  and  wounding  others  than  their  warriors, 
was  not  to  be  avoided.    On  their  retreat  to  their  j 
village,   after  the  commencement  of  the  battle,  | 
they  resorted  to  their  block  house,?,  and  strong  log 
dwellings,  whence  they  kept  up  resistance,  and  ; 
resolutely   maintained  the  fight.     Mingled  with 
their  women  and  children,  it  was  impossible  tl»ey  ' 
should  not  be  exposed  to  the  general  danger  ;  and  | 
tlius  many  were  injured,  notwithstanding  every 
possible  precaution.    Many  of  the  women  united 
with  their  warriors,  and  Contended  in  iXie  battle 
with  fearless  bravory.  I 


60 


LIFE   OF   GENERAL  JACKSOIf. 


CHAPTER  III. 

General  Jackson  endeavours  tc  unite  wilh  the  East  Temustei 
troops. — Estahlishment  of  Fart  Strother. — Learns  (lie  enemy 
are  imbodied. — Marches  to  meet  them. — Battle  of  Talladega. — 
Is  cotnpelled  to  return  to  his  enrampjJumi,for  ivant  of  supplies. — 
Anecdote. — Discontents  of  his  army. — Militiu  and  volunteers 
mntiny. — Address  to  tlie  vffice-'s. — Is  compelled  to  abandon  Fort 
Strother. — Hillabee  clans  sue  fyr  peace. — Letter  from  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Blackburn. — Answer. —  Thi  volunteers  claim  to  be  dis- 
charged.— Mutiny. — Address  to  litem — General  Cocke  arrives 
with  part  of  his  division. — General  CcJ'ee's  brigade  petitions 
for  a  discliarge. — General  Jackson's  answer. —  7'luy  abandon 
Oie  service,  ami  go  lume. 

Measures  were  now  taken  to  establish  a  pe 
manent  depot  on  the  north  bank  of  the  river,  u- 
the  Ten  Islands,  to  be  protected  by  strong  picket- 
ting  and  block  houses.  It  was  desirable  to  unite, 
as  soon  as  possible,  with  the  troops  from  the  East 
of  Tennessee ;  to  effect  this,  Jackson,  on  the  4th, 
despatched  an  express  to  General  White,  urging 
him  to  unite  with  him  as  soon  as  possible,  and 
again  entreating  him  on  the  subject  of  provisions  ; 
to  bring  with  him  such  as  he  had  on  hand,  or  could 
procure  ;  and,  if  possible,  to  form  some  certain  ar- 
rangement that  might  ensure  a  supply  in  future. 

Anxious  to  proceed,  and  have  his  army  active, 
he  again,  on  the  morning  of  the  7th,  renewed  his 
application  to  General  White,  who  still  remained 
It  Turkey  town. 

The  army  was  busily  engaged  in  fortifying  the 
►lite  fixed  on  for  a  depot,  to  which  the  name  of 
jp'ort  Strother  had  been  given.  On  the  evening  of 
the  7th,  a  runner  arrived  from  Talladega,  a  fort  of 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON. 


the  friendly  Indians,  thirty  miles  below,  with  in  i 

formation,  that  the  enemy  had  that  morning  en  j 
camped  before  it  in  great  numbers,  and  woulo 

certainly  destroy  it,  uiJeas  immediate  assistance  . 

could  be  afforded.    Jackson,  confiding  in  the  state-  i 

ment,  determined  to  lose  no  time  in  extending  the  , 

relief  which  was  solicited.     Understanding  that  1 

General  White  was  on  his  way  to  join  him,  he  i 
despatched  a  messenger,  directing  him  to  reach 
his  encampment  in  the  course  of  the  ensuing  night, 

and  to  protect  it  in  his  absence.  He  now  gave  i 
orders  for  taking  up  the  line  of  march,  with  twelve 

hundred  infantry,  and  eight  hundred  cavalry  and  j 

mounted  gun-men ;  leaving  behind  the  sick,  the  ! 

wounded,  and  all  his  baggage,  with  a  force  which  ' 

was  deemed  sufficient  for  their  protection,  until  the  I 
reinforcement  from  Turkey  town  should  arrive. 

The  friendly  Indians,  who  had  taken  refuge  in  ! 

this  besiesed  fort,  Iiad  involved  themselves  in  their  i 
present  perilous  situation,  from  a  disposition  to 

preserve  their  amicable  relations  with  the  United  | 

States.  To  suffer  them  to  fall  a  sacrifice,  from  any  ! 
tardiness  of  movement,  would  have  been  unpar 

donable  ;  and,  unless  relief  were  immediately  ex  j 

tended,  it  might  arrive  too  late.    Acting  under  i 

these  impressions,  the  general  concluded  to  move  | 

instantly  forward  to  their  assistance.    By  twelve  i 
o'clock  at  night,  every  thing  was  in  readiness;  and 
in  an  hour  afterwards,  the  army  commenced  cross- 
ing the  river,  about  a  mile  above  the  camp ;  each 
of  the  mounted  men  carrying  one  of  the  infantry 

behind  him.    The  river,  at  this  place,  was  six  hun-  | 

died  yards  wide,  and,  ii  being  necessary  to  send  | 

back  the  horses  for  the  remainder  of  the  infantry  I 

aeveraj  hours  were  consumed  before  a  passage  of  | 


52 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSUN. 


1 


all  the  troops  could  bo  effected.  NeTertheleas, 

tliougli  greatly  fatigued,  and  deprived  of  sleep,  . 

they  continued  the  march  with  animation,  and  by  j 

evening  had  arrived  within  six  miles  of  the  enemy.  ' 
In  this  march,  Jackson  used  the  utmost  precaution 
to  prevent  surprise  ;  marching  his  army,  as  was 
his  constant  custom,  in  three  columns,  so  that,  by 

a  speedy  manoeuvre,  they  might  be  thrown  into  ' 

such  a  situation  as  to  be  capable  of  resisting  an  i 

attack  from  any  quarter.    Having  judiciously  en-  i 

camped  his  men  on  an  eligible  piece  of  ground,  he  , 

sent  forward  two  of  the  friendly  Indians,  and  a.  ; 

white  man,  who  had,  for  many  years,  been  detained  ' 

a  captive  in  the  nation,  and  was  now  acting  09  | 

interpreter,  to  reconnoitre  the  position  of  the  ene-  1 

my.    About  eleven  o'clock  at  nigiit,  they  returned  ' 

with  information  that  the  savages  were  posted  ! 

ivithin  a  quarter  of  a  mile  of  the  fort,  and  appeared  j 

to  be  in  great  force ;  but  that  they  had  not  been  j 

able  to  approach  near  enough  to  ascertain  either  1 

their  numbers  or  precise  situation.    Within  an  | 

hour  after  this,  a  runner  arrived  from  Turkey  j 
town,  with  a  letter  from  General  White,  stating, 
that,  after  having  taken  up  the  line  of  march,  to 

unite  at  Fort  Stroiher,  he  had  received  orders  from  | 

General  Cocke  to  change  his  course,  and  proceed  , 

to  the  mouth  of  Chatauga  Creek.    It  was  most  \ 

distressing  intelligence  ;  the  sick  and  wounded  had  j 

been  left,  with  no  other  calculation  for  their  safety,  ' 

than  that  this  detachment  of  the  army,  agreeably  ] 

to  his  request,  would,  by  advancing  upon  Port  ' 
Strother,  serve  the  double  purpose  of  protecting  his 

rear,  and  enable  him  to  advance  still  further  into  1 

the  enemy's  country.   The  information  proved  that  j 

all  those  salutary  anticipations  were  at  an  end,  and  1 


I 


I 

LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON.  53  ^ 

that  evils  of  the  worst  kind  might  be  the  c«nse-  j 
quence.    Intelligence  so  disagreeable  filled  the 
mind  of  Jackson  with  apprehension.    Orders  were 
accordingly  given  to  the  adjutant-general  to  pre- 
pare the  line,  and  by  four  o'clock  in  the  morning, 
the  army  was  again  in  motion.    The  infantry  pro- 
ceeded in  three  columns  ;  tlie  cavalry  in  the  same 
order,  in  the  rear,  with  flankers  on  each  wing. 
The   advance,   consisting  of  a  company  of  ar- 
tillerists, with  muskets,  two  companies  of  riflemen, 
and  one  of  spies,  marched  about  four  hundred  yards  | 
in  front,  under  the  command  of  Colonel  Carroll, 
inspector-general,  with  orders,  after  conmieucing 
the  action,  to  fall  back  on  the  centre,  so  as  to  | 
draw  the  enemy  after  tliem.    At  seven  o'clock, 
having  arrived  within  a  mQe  oi  the  position  they  ] 
occupied,  the  columns  were  displayed  ij  order  of 
battle.    Two  hundred  and  fifty  of  the  cavalry,  , 
under  Lieutenant-Colonel  Dyer,  were  placed  in  j 
the  rear  of  the  centre,  as  a  corps  de  reserve.  , 
The  remainder  of  tJie  mounted  troops  were  di-  ] 
reeled  to  advance  on  the  right  and  left,  and,  after  ' 
encircling  the  enemy,  by  uniting  the  fronts  of  their 
columns,  and  keeping  their  rear  rested  on  the  in-  * 
fantry,  to  face  and  press  towards  the  centre,  so  as 
to  leave  them  no  possibility  of  escape.    The  re-  I 
maining  part  of  the  army  was  ordered  to  move  up  | 
by  heads  of  companies ;  General  Hall's  brigade 
occupying  the  right,  and  General  Roberts's  the 
left,  i 

About  eight  o'clock,  the  advance  having  ar- 
rived within  eighty  yards  of  the  enemy,  who  were 
concealed  in  a  thick  shrubbery,  received  a  heavy 
fire,  which  they  instantly  returned  with  much  spirit 
5* 


94 


LIFE  OP  (jENBRAL  JACKSON. 


Falling  in  with  the  enemy,  agreeably  to  their  in 
structions,  they  retired  towards  the  centre,  but  not 
Defore  they  had  dislodged  thein  from  their  position. 
The  Indians,  now  screaming  and  yelling  hideously, 
rushed  forward  in  the  direction  of  General  Roberts's 
brigade,  a  few  companies  of  which,  alarmed  by 
their  numbers  and  yells,  gave  way  at  the  first 
fire.  Jackson,  to  fill  tlie  chasm  which  was  thus 
created,  directed  the  regiment  commanded  by 
Colonel  Bradley  to  be  moved  up,  which,  from  some 
unaccountable  cause,  had  failed  to  advance  in  a 
line  with  the  others,  and  now  occupied  a  position 
in  rear  of  the  centre :  Bradley,  however,  to  whom 
this  order  was  given  by  one  of  the  stiff,  omitted  to 
execute  it  in  time,  alleging,  he  was  determined  to 
remain  on  the  eminence  which  he  then  possessed, 
until  he  sliould  be  approached,  and  attacked  by  the 
enemy.  Owing  to  this  failure  in  the  volunteer 
regiment,  it  became  necessary  to  dismount  the  re- 
serve, wliich,  with  great  firmness,  met  the  approach 
of  the  enemy,  who  were  rapidly  .iioving  in  this 
direction.  The  retreatmg  militia,  somewhat  mor- 
tified at  seeing  tlicir  places  so  promptly  supplied, 
rallied,  and,  recovering  their  former  position  in  the 
line,  aided  in  clieckiug  the  advance  of  the  sav- 
ages. The  action  now  became  general  along  the 
line,  and  in  fifteen  minutes  the  Indians  were  seen 
fleeing  in  every  direction.  On  the  left,  they  were 
met  and  repulsed  by  the  mounted  riflemen ;  but  on 
the  right,  owing  to  the  halt  of  Bradley's  regiment, 
which  was  intended  to  occupy  the  extreme  right, — 
and  to  the  circumstance  of  Colonel  AUcorn,  wha 
commanded  one  of  the  wings  of  the  cavalry,  hav 
mg  taken  too  large  a  circuit, — a  considerable  Bpac» 


LIFB  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON. 


was  left  between  the  infantry  and  the  cavalry,  I 
through  which  numbers  escaped.  j 
Jackson,  in  his  report  of  this  action,  bestows  | 
high  commendation  on  the  officers  and  soldiers. 

In  this  batde  the  force  of  the  enemy  was  one  ^ 
thousand  and  eighty,  of  whom  two  hundred  and  < 
ninety-nine  were  left  dead  on  the  ground ;  and  it 
IS  believed  that  many  were  killed  in  the  flight,  who  ! 
were  not  found  when  the  estimate  was  made  1 
Probably  few  escaped  unhurt    Their  loss  on  this  ' 
■occasion,  as  stated  since  by  themselves,  was  not  : 
less  than  six  hundred  ;  tliat  of  the  Americans  was  | 
fifteen  k-Ued,  and  eighty  wounded,  several  of  whom 
afterwards    died.     Jackson,  after  collecting   his  , 
dead  and  wounded,  advanced  his  army  beyond  the 
fort,  and  encamped  for  the  night.    The  Indians,  | 
-who  had  been  for  several  days  shut  up  by  the  be- 
.fliegers,  thus  fortunately  liberated  from  the  most 
.dreadful  apprehensions,  and  severest   privations,  i 
Slaving  for  some  time  been  entirely  without  water, 
xeceived  the  army  with  all  the  demonstrations  of  | 
■gratitude  that  savages  could  give.    Their  man- 
jifestations  of  joy  for  their  deliverance  presented  I 
.  an  interesting  and  affecting  spectacle.    Their  fears  ' 
:had  been  already  greatly  excited,  for  it  was  the  , 
■very  day  when  they  were  to  have  been  assaulted,  1 
and  when  every  soul  within  the  fort  must  have  ' 
perished.     All  the  provisions  they  could  spare  ' 
•from  their  scanty  stock,  they  sold  to  the  general  ' 
who,  purchasing  with  his  own  money,  distributed  i 
•them  amongst  the  soldiers,  who  were  almost  dee-  | 
'.titute.  I 
The  condition  of  his  posts  in  the  rear,  and  the  ' 
•want  of  provisions,  (having  left  his  encampment  at 


i 


66 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON. 


Fort  Strother  with  little  more  than  one  day's  ra- 
tions,) compelled  him  to  return  ;  thus  giving  the  , 
enemy  time  to  recover.  | 
The  cause  which  prevented  General  White  from  ' 
arriving  at  the  Ten  Islands  at  a  moment  when  it  ■ 
was  so  important,  when  it  was  so  confidently  ex- 
pected, was  as  yet  unknown.    This  mystery,  hith- 
erto inexplicable,  was  some  time  after  explained, 
by  a  view  of  the  order  of  General  Cocke,  under 
which  White,  being  a  brigadier  in  his  division,  ' 
chose  to  act,  rather  than  under  Jackson's.  Gene- 
ral Cocke  slated  to  him,  he  had  understood  Jackson 
had  crossed  the  Coosa,  and  had  an  engagement  1 
with  the  Indians.    "  I  have  formed  a  council  of  ] 
officers  here,  and  proposed  these  questions  : — ShaP  ' 
we  follow  him,  or  cross  the  river,  and  proceed  to  | 
the  Creek  settlements  on  the  Tallapoosa?  Both 
were  decided  unanimously, — that  lie  should  not  be  I 
followed,  but  that  we  should  proceed  in  the  way 
pioposed  I"    He  remarked,  that  the  decision  had  j 
Diet  his  entire  approbation ;  and  directed  White  \ 
forthwith  to  unite  with  him  at  his  encampment 
wlicre  he  should  wait,  fortifying  it  strongly  for  3 
depot,  until  he  should  arrive.    "  If,"  said  he,  "  we  | 
follow  General  Jackson  and  his  army,  we  must  | 
suffer  for  supplies ;  nor  can  we  expect  to  gain  a  j 
victory.    Let  us  then  take  a  direction  in  which  we  | 
can  share  some  of  the  dangers  and  glories  of  the 
field.    You  will  employ  pilots,  and  advise  me  which  .' 
side  of  the  river  you  will  move  up."    In  this,  as  in  ' 
every  other  measure,  it  seemed  to  be  the  studied  I 
aim  of  Cocke  to  thwart  the  views  and  arrest  the 
successes  of  Jackson ;  and  perhaps  jealousy,  in  no  | 
inconsiderable  degree,  was  the  moving  spring  to 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSOM 


67 


fais  conduct.  Both  were  majoi -generals,  from  the 
state  of  Tennessee,  sent  on  the  same  important 
errand,  to  check  an  insolent  foe. 

Having  buried  his  dead,  and  provided  litters  for 
the  wounded,  Jackson  reluctantly  commenced  hia 
return  march  on  the  morning  succeeding  the  battle. 
He  confidently  hoped,  from  the  previous  assurances 
of  the  contractors,  that,  by  the  time  of  his  return 
to  Fort  Strother,  sufficient  supplies  would  have 
arrived  there ;  but,  to  his  inexpressible  uneasi- 
nehs,  he  found  that  not  a  particle  had  been  for- 
warded since  his  departure,  and  that  what  had 
been  left  was  already  consumed.  Even  his  private 
stores,  brought  on  at  his  own  expense,  and  upon 
which  he  and  his  staff  had  hitherto  wholly  sub- 
sisted, had  been,  in  his  absence,  distributed  amongst 
the  sick  by  the  hospital  surgeon,  who  had  been 
previously  instructed  to  do  so,  in  the  event  their 
wants  should  require  it.  A  few  dozen  biscuit, 
which  remained  on  his  return,  were  given  to 
hungry  applicants,  without  being  tasted  by  himself 
or  family,  who  were  probably  not  less  hungry  than 
those  who  were  thus  relieved.  A  scanty  supply  of 
indifferent  beef,  taken  from  the  enemy,  or  pur- 
chased of  the  Cherokees,  was  now  the  only  sup- 
port afforded.  Thus  left  destitute,  Jackson,  with 
the  utmost  cheerfulness  of  temper,  repaired  to  the 
bullock  pen,  and,  of  the  offil  there  thrown  away, 
provided  for  himself  and  staff,  what  he  was  pleased 
to  call,  a  very  comfortable  repast.  Tripes,  how- 
ever, hastily  provided  in  a  camp,  without  bread  or 
seasoning,  can  only  be  palatable  to  an  appetite 
very  highly  whetted  ;  yet  tiiis  constituted,  for  seve- 
ral days,  the  only  diet  at  head-quarters ;  during 
which  time,  the  general  seemed  entirely  satisfied 


58 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKS8N. 


with  his  fare.    Neither  this,  nor  the  liberal  dona  j 

tione  by  which  he  disfurnished  himself,  to  relieve  , 

the  su&ring  soldier,  deserves  to  be  ascribed  to  ; 

ostentation  or  design  :  the  one  flowed  from  benevo-  ' 

lente,  the  other  from  necessity,  and  a  desire  to  j 

place  before  his  men  an  example  of  patience  and  | 

Buffering,  which  he  felt  might  be  necessary.  j 

In  this  campaign,  a  soldier  one  morning,  with  a  , 

wo-begone  countenance,  approached  the  general,  i 

stating  that  he  was  nearly  starved,  that  he  had  | 

nothing  to  eat,  and  could  not  imagine  what  he  | 

should  do.    He  was  the  more  encouraged  to  com-  | 

plain,  from  perceiving  that  the  general,  who  had  \ 

seated  himself  at  the  root  of  a  tree,  waiting  the  ] 

coming  up  of  the  rear  of  the  army,  was  busily  en-  I 

gaged  in  eating  something.    The  poor  fellow  waa  | 

impressed  with  the  belief,  from  what  he  saw,  that  ' 
want  only  attached  to  the  soldiers,  and  that  the 
officers,  particularly  the  general,  were  liberally 

supplied.  He  accordingly  approached  h'm  with  : 
great  confidence  of  being  relieved.    Jackson  told 

him,  that  it  had  always  been  a  rule  with  him  never  j 

to  turn  away  a  hungry  man  when  it  was  in  his  | 

power  to  relieve  him.    I  will  most  cheerfully,  said  I 

he.  divide  with  you  what  I  have  ;  and,  putting  his  | 

hand  to  his  pocket,  drew  forth  a  few  acorns,  from  | 

which  he  had  been  feasting,  adding,  it  was  the  best  | 

and  only  fare  he  had.    The  soldier  seemed  much  I 

surprised,  and  forthwith  circulated  amongst  his  \ 

comrades,  that  their  general  was  actually  subsisting  , 

upon  acorns,  and  that  they  ought  no  more  to  com-  I 

plain.    From  this  circumstance  was  derived  the  j 

story  heretofore  published  to  the  world,  that  Jack-  j 

son,  about  the  period  of  his  greatest  suffering,  and  | 

with  a  view  to  inspirit  them,  had  invited  his  ofHccrs  | 


LIFE  OP  GENERAL  JACKSON. 


59 


o  dine  with  him,  and  presented,  for  their  repast, 
water,  and  a  tray  of  acorns. 

But  discontents,  and  a  desire  to  return  home, 
arose,  and  presently  spread  through  the  camp ;  and 
these  were  still  further  augmented,  by  the  arts  of 
a  few  designing  officers,  who,  believing  that  the 
campaign  would  now  break  up,  hoped  to  make 
themselves  popular  on  the  return,  by  taking  part 
in  the  complaints  of  the  soldiery.  It  is  a  singular 
fact,  that  those  officers  who  pretended,  on  this 
occasion,  to  feel  most  sensibly  for  the  wants  of  the 
army,  had  never  themselves  been  without  pro- 
visions. 

During  this  period  of  scarcity  and  discontent, 
small  quantities  of  supplies  were  occasionally  for- 
warded by  the  contractors,  but  not  a  sufficiency 
for  present  want,  and  still  less  to  remove  the  ap- 
prehensions that  were  entertained  for  the  future. 
At  length  revolt  began  to  show  itself  openly.  The 
officers  and  soldiers  of  the  militia,  collecting  in 
their  tents,  and  talking  over  their  grievances,  de- 
termined to  yield  up  their  patriotism,  and  to  aban- 
don the  camp.  To  this  measure  there  were  good 
evidences  for  believing  that  several  of  the  officers 
of  the  old  volunteer  corps  exerted  themselves 
clandestinely,  and  with  great  industry,  to  insti- 
gate them ;  looking  upon  themselves  somewhat  in 
the  light  of  veterans,  from  the  discipline  they  had 
acquired,  they  were  unwilling  to  be  seen  foremost 
in  setting  an  example  of  mutiny,  and  wished  to 
make  tlie  defection  of  others  a  pretext  for  their 
own. 

Jackson,  apprized  of  their  determination  to 
abandon  him,  resolved  to  oppose  it,  and  at  all 
hazard.    In  the  morning,  when  they  were  to  cexTj 


60  LIFE  OP  GENERAL  JACKSON. 


1 


their  intentions  into  execution,  he  drew  up  the  j 
volunteers  in  front  of  tliein,  with  positive  com- 
mands to  prevent  their  progress,  and  compel  them' 
to  return  to  their  former  position  in  the  camp. 
The  militia,  seeing  this,  and  feariug  the  conse-  , 
quences  of  persisting  in  their  purpose,  at  once  j 
abandoned  it,  and  returned  to  tlieir  quarters  witli-  | 
out  further  murmuring,  extolling,  in  the  highest  i 
terms,  the  unalterable  firmness  of  the  general.  \ 
The  next  day,  however,  presented  a  singulai  J 
scene.    The  volunteers,  who  the  day  before  had  .j 
been  the  instruments  for  compelling  the  militia  to 
return  to  their  duty,  seeing  the  destruction  of  those  I 
hopes  on  which  they  had  lately  built,  in  turn  be- 
gan, themselves,  to  mutiny.    Their  opposition  to- 
the  departure  of  the  mUitia  was  but  a  mere  pre- 
tence, to  escape  suspicion.,  for  they  silently  wished  | 
them  success.    They  now  determined  to  move  oflT  | 
in  a  body,  believing,  from  the  known  disafiection  in. 
the  camp,  that  the  general  could  find  no  means  to 
prevent  it.    What  was  their  surprise,  when,  oa 
attempting  to  efllectuate  their  re.solves,  they  found 
the  same  men,  whom  they  had  so  lately  opposed^  j 
occupying  the  very  position  which  they  had  done-  | 
the  day  previous,  for  a  similar  purpose,  and  mani-  j 
festing  a  fixed  determination  to  obey  the  orders  of  | 
their  general !    All  they  ventured  to  do  was,  to 
take  the  example  through,  and,  like  them,  move-  i 
back  in  peace  and  quietness  to  their  quarters-  : 
This  was  a  curious  change  of  circumstances,  whe»  , 
we  consider  in  how  short  a  time  it  happened ;  but  i 
the  conduct  of  the  mOitia,  on  this  occasion,  must  ] 
be  ascr'bed  to  the  management  of  the  general,  and  j 
to  the  gratification  they  felt,  in  being  able  to  de 
feat  the  views  of  those  who  had  so  lately  thwuUod: 


i 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON. 


61 


their  own.    To  this  may  be  also  added,  the  con-  | 
sciousness  all  must  have  entertained,  that  the  pri-  | 
vations  of  which  they  complained,  were  far  less 
grievous  than  they  had  represented  them  ;  by  no  j 
means  sufficient  to  justify  revolt,  and  not  greater  | 
than  patriots  might  be  expected  to  bear  without  a  j 
murmur,  when  objects  of  such  high  consideration 
were  before  them.    But,  anxious  to  return  to  their 
families,  wearied  of  their  sufferings,  they  seized  | 
with  eagerness  every  pretext  for  exoneration,  and 
listened  with  too  much  docility  to  the  representa- 
tions of  those,  who  were  influenced  by  less  hon-  | 
ourable  feelings.    The  militia  continued  to  show  i 
a  much  more  patriotic  disposition  than  the  volun-  ] 
teers ;  who,  having  adopted  a  course  which  they  ' 
discovered  must  finally  involve  them  in  dishonour 
if  it  should  fail,  were  exceedingly  anxious  for  its 
success.    On  this  subject,  the  pretensions  of  the 
cavalry  were  certainly  much  better  established ;  as 
they  were  entirely  without  forage,  and  without  the 
prospect  of  speedily  obtaining  any.     They  pe- 
titioned, therefore,  to  be  permitted  to  return  into  the 
settled  parts  of  the  country,  pledging  themselves, 
by  their  platoon  and  field-officers,  that,  if  sufficient 
time  were  allowed  to  recruit  the  exhausted  state  of 
their  horses,  and  to  procure  their  winter  clothing,  ' 
they  would  return  to  the  performance  of  their  duty  | 
whenever  called  on.    The  general,  unable,  from  ' 
many  causes,  to  prosecute  the  campaign,  and  con- 
fiding in  the  assurance  given,  granted  the  prayer 
of  their  petition,  and  they  immediately  set  out  on 
their  return.  ' 

About  this  time,  General  Jackson's  prospect  of 
being  able  to  maintain  the  conquests  he  had  made,  ' 
began  to  be  cheered  by  letters  just  received  from  i 


62  LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSeN-  1 

tho  contractors  and  principal  wagon-master,  stating  i 
that  sufficient  supplies  for  the  army  wtjre  then  on  ' 
the  road,  and  would  shortly  arrive  :  but  discontents 
to  an  alarming  degree  still  prevailed  in  his  camp. 
To  allay  them,  if  possible,  lie  hastened  to  lay  be- 
fore the  division  the  information  and  letters  he  had 
received,  and,  at  the  same  time,  invited  the  field 
and  platoon-officers  to  his  quarters,  to  consult  on 
the  measures  proper  to  be  pursued.    He  addressed 
them  in  an  animated  speech,  in  which  he  extolled  '< 
their  patriotism  and  achievements ;  lamented  the 
privations  to  which  they  had  be^n  exposed,  and  | 
endeavoured  to  rennimate  them  by  the  prospect  of  | 
speedy  relief,  which  he  expected  with  confidence  1 
on  the  following  day.    He  spoke  of  the  immense  i 
importance  of  the  conquests  they  had  already  made,  ] 
and  of  the  dreadful  consequences  that  must  result,  I 
should  they  be  now  abandoned.    "  What,"  con-  j 
tinned  he,  "is  the  present  situation  of  our  camp.'  j 
A  number  of  our  fellow  soldiers  are  wounded,  and 
unable  to  help  themselves.    Shall  it  be  said  that  i 
we  are  so  lost  to  humanity  as  to  leave  them  in  ' 
this  condition  ?    Can  any  one,  under  these  circum-  | 
stances,  and  under  these  prospects,  consent  to  an  ' 
abandonment  of  the  camp  ?  of  all  that  we  have 
acquired  in  the  midst  of  so  many  difficulties,  priva-  I 
tions,  and  dangers  ?  of  what  it  will  cost  us  so  much  ; 
to  regain  ?  of  what  we  never  can  regain, — our  ! 
brave  wounded  companions,  who  will  be  murdered  I 
by  our  unthinking,  unfeeling  inhumanity  ?  Surely  I 
there  can  be  none  such !    No,  we  will  take  with  | 
us,  when  we  go,  our  wounded  and  sick.    They  | 
must  not — shall  not  perish  by  our  cold-blooded  | 
indifference.     But  why  should  you  despond  ?    I  I 
do  not,  and  yet  your  wants  are  not  greater  than  I 


1 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON 


63 


mine.  To  be  sure  we  do  not  live  sumptuously ; 
but  no  one  has  died  of  hunger,  or  is  likely  to 
die ;  and  then,  how  animating  are  our  prospects  I 
Large  supplies  are  at  Deposit,  and  already  are 
officers  despatched  to  hasten  them  on.  Wagons 
are  on  the  way ;  a  large  number  of  beeves  are 
in  the  neighbourhood ;  and  detachments  are  out 
to  bring  them  in. — All  these  resources  surely 
cannot  fail.  I  have  no  wish  to  starve  you — none 
to  deceive  you.  Stay  contentedly ;  and,  if  sup- 
plies do  not  arrive  in  two  days,  we  will  all  march 
back  together,  and  throw  the  blame  of  our  faOure 
where  it  should  properly  lie ;  until  then,  we  cer- 
tainly have  the  means  of  subsisting ;  and  if  we 
are  compelled  to  bear  privations,  let  us  remember 
that  they  are  borne  for  our  country,  and  are  not 
greater  than  many,  perhaps  most  armies,  have 
been  compelled  to  endure.  I  have  called  you 
together,  to  tell  you  my  feelings  and  my  wishes ; 
this  evening  think  on  them  seriously ;  and  let  me 
know  yours  in  the  morning." 

Having  retired  to  their  tents,  the  officers  of  the 
volunteer  brigade  came  to  the  conclusion,  that 
"  nothing  short  of  marching  the  army  immediately 
back  to  the  settlements  could  prevent  those  difficul- 
ties and  that  disgrace,  which  must  attend  a  forcible 
desertion  of  the  camp  by  his  soldiers."  The  offi- 
cers of  the  militia  determined  differently,  and  re- 
ported a  willingness  to  maintain  the  post  a  few  days 
longer.  "  If  provisions  arrive,  let  us  proceed  with 
the  campaign ;  if  not,  let  us  be  marched  back  to 
where  it  can  be  procured."  The  general,  who 
greatly  preferred  the  latter  opinion,  to  allay  excite- 
ment, was  disposed  to  gratify  those  who  appeared 
unwilling  to  submit  to  further  hardships;  and  with 


64 


LIFE   OF  OENERAl.  JAOKSOW. 


this  view  ordered  General  Hall  to  inarch  his  orig- 
ade  to  Fort  Deposit,  and,  after  satisfying  their 
wants,  to  return  and  act  as  an  escort  to  the  pro- 
visions. The  second  regiment,  however,  unwilling 
to  be  outdone  by  the  militia,  consented  to  remain . 
and  the  first  proceeded  alone.  On  this  occasion  he 
could  not  forbear  to  remark,  that  men  for  whom 
he  had  ever  clierished  so  warm  an  affection,  and 
for  v;hom  he  would  at  all  times  have  made  any 
sacrifice,  desiring  to  abandon  him  at  a  moment 
when  their  presence  was  so  particularly  necessary, 
filled  him  with  emotions  which  the  strongest  lan- 
guage was  too  feeble  to  express.  "  I  was  prepar- 
ed," continued  the  general,  "  to  endure  every  evil 
but  disgrace ;  and  this,  as  I  never  can  submit  to 
myself,  I  can  give  no  encouragement  to  in  otliers." 

Two  days  had  elapsed  since  the  departure  of  the 
volunteers,  and  supplies  had  not  arrived.  The 
militia,  with  great  earnestness,  now  demanded  a 
performance  of  the  pledge  that  had  been  given — 
that  they  should  be  marched  back  to  the  settle- 
ments. Jackson,  on  giving  them  an  assurance  that 
they  should  return,  if  relief  did  not  reach  them 
in  two  days,  had  indulged  a  confidence  that  it 
would  certainly  arrive  by  that  time ;  and  now 
from  the  information  he  had  received,  felt  moro 
than  ever  certain  that  it  could  not  be  far  distant 
Having,  however,  pledged  himself,  he  could  use  no 
arguments  or  entreaties  to  detain  them  any  longer, 
and  immediately  took  measures  for  complying  with 
their  wishes,  and  the  promise  he  had  made  them. 
This  was,  to  hiin,  a  moment  of  the  deepest  dejec- 
tion. He  foresaw  how  difiicult  it  would  be  ever  to 
accomplish  the  object  upon  which  his  heart  was  so 
devoutly  fi.xed,  should  he  lose  tlie  men  who  were 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON.  66 

now  with  him ;  or  even  to  regain  the  conquests  he 
had  made,  if  his  present  posts  shovdd  fall  into  the 
hands  of  the  enemy.  While  thus  pondering  on 
the  gloomy  prospect,  he  lifted  up  his  hands,  and  ex- 
claimed, with  a  look  and  manner  which  showed 
how  much  he  felt,  "  If  only  two  men  will  remain 
with  me,  I  will  never  abandon  this  post"  Captain 
Gordon,  of  the  spies,  facetiously  replied,  "  you 
have  one,  general ;  let  us  look  if  we  can't  find  an- 
other ;"  and  immediately,  with  a  zeal  suited  to  the 
occasion,  undertook,  with  some  of  the  general  staff, 
to  raise  volunteers ;  and  in  a  little  while  succeeded 
in  procuring  one  hundred  and  nine,  who  declared  a 
determination  to  remain  and  protect  the  post.  The 
general,  greatjy  rejoiced  that  he  would  not  be  com 
polled  to  an  entire  abandonment  of  his  position, 
now  set  out  towards  Deposit,  with  the  remainder 
of  the  army,  who  were  given  distinctly  to  under- 
stand, tliat  on  meeting  supplies  they  were  to  return 
and  prosecute  the  campaign.  This  was  an  event, 
which,  as  it  had  been  e.xpected  and  foretold,  soon 
took  place  ;  they  had  not  proceeded  more  than  ten 
or  twelve  miles,  when  they  met  a  hundred  and  fifty 
beeves  ;  but  a  sight  which  gave  to  Jackson  so  much 
satisfaction,  was  to  them  the  most  unwelcome. 
Their  faces  being  now  turned  towards  home,  no 
spectacle  could  be  more  hateftil  than  one  which 
was  to  change  their  destination.  They  were 
halted,  and,  having  satisfied  their  appetites,  the 
troops,  with  the  exception  of  such  as  were  neces- 
sary to  proceed  with  the  sick  and  wounded,  were 
ordered  to  return  to  the  encampment ;  he  himself 
intending  to  see  the  contractors,  and  establish  more 
effectual  arrangements  for  the  future.  So  great 
was  their  aversion  to  returning,  that  they  preferred 
6  * 


6C  LIFE   OK  CENERAL  JACKSON. 

a  violation  of  tlieir  duty  and  their  pledged  honour.  | 
Low  murmurings  ran  along  the  lines,  and  presently  ' 
broke  out  into  open  mutiny.    In  spite  of  the  order  j 
they  had  received,  they  began  to  revolt,  and  one  ] 
company  was  already  moving  off,  in  a  direction  j 
towards  home.    They  had  proceeded  some  distance,  | 
before  information  of  their  departure  was  had  by 
Jacksou.    Irritated  at  their  conduct,  in  attempting  i 
to  violate  the  promise  they  had  given,  the  general  | 
pursued,  until  he  came  near  a  part  of  his  staff,  and  • 
a  few  soldiers,  who,  with  General  Coffee,  had 
halted  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  ahead.    He  or- 
dered them  to  form  immediately  across  the  road, 
and  to  fire  on  the  mutineers  if  they  attempted  to 
proceed.    Snatching  up  their  arms,  these  faithful  I 
adherents  presented  a  front  which  threw  the  de-  | 
serters  into  affright,  and  caused  them  to  retreat 
precipitately  to  the  main  body.    Here,  it  was  hoped,  j 
the  matter  would  end,  and  that  no  further  oppo- 
sition would  be  made  to  returning.    This  e.xpecta-  ] 
tion  was  not  realized  ;  a  mutinous  temper  began  j 
presently  to  display  itself  throughout  the  whole  ] 
brigade.     Jackson,  having  left  his  aid-de-camp,  j 
Major  Reid,  engaged  in  making  up  some  despatch-  | 
es,  had  gone  out  alone  amongst  his  troops,  who  ' 
were  at  some  distance ;  on  his  arrival,  he  found  a 
much  more  extensive  mutiny  than  that  which  had  , 
just  been  quelled.    Almost  the  whole  brigade  had  ! 
put  itself  into  an  attitude  for  moving  forcibly  ofT.  ! 
A  crisis  had  arrived ;  and,  feeling  its  importance,  j 
he  determined  to  take  no  rniddle  ground,  but  to  ] 
triumph  or  perish.    He  was  still  without  the  use  of  . 
his  lofl  arm ;  but,  seizing  a  musket,  and  restmg  it  i 
on  the  neck  of  hia  horse,  he  threw  himself  in  front  \ 
tf  the  column,  and  threatened  to  shoot  the  first  \ 


I 
i 


LIFE  OF  UENERAL  JACKSON.  67 

man  who  should  attempt  to  advance.  In  this  sitaa- 
tion  lie  was  found  by  Major  Reid  and  General 
Coffee,  who,  fearing,  from  tlie  length  of  his  ab- 
sence, that  some  disturbance  had  arisen,  hastened 
where  he  was,  and,  placing  themselves  by  his  side, 
awaited  the  result  in  anxious  expectation.  For 
many  minutes  the  column  preserved  a  sullen,  yet 
hesitating  attitude,  fearing  to  proceed  in  their  pur- 
pose, and  disliking  to  abandon  it.  In  the  mean  time, 
tliose  who  remained  faitiiful  to  their  duty,  amount- 
ing to  about  two  companies,  were  collected  and 
formed  at  a  short  distance  in  advance  of  the  troops, 
and  in  rear  of  the  general,  with  positive  directions 
to  imitate  his  examjile  in  firing,  if  they  attempted 
to  proceed.  At  length,  finding  no  one  bold  enough 
to  advance,  and  overtaken  by  those  fears  which  in 
the  hour  of  peril  always  beset  persons  engaged  in 
what  they  know  to  be  a  bad  cause,  they  abandoned 
their  purpose,  and,  turning  quietly  round,  agreed  to 
return  to  their  posts.  It  is  very  certain,  that,  but 
for  the  firmness  of  tlie  general,  at  this  critical  mo- 
ment, the  campaign  would  have  been  broken  up, 
and  most  probably  not  commenced  again. 

Shortly  after  the  battle  of  Talladega,  the  Hilla- 
bee  tribes  applied  to  General  Jackson  for  peace , 
declaring  their  willingness  to  receive  it  on  such 
term.s  as  he  might  be  pleased  to  dictate.  His  de- 
cision had  been  already  returned,  stating  to  them 
that  his  government  had  taken  up  arras,  to  brmg  to 
a  proper  sense  of  duty  a  people  to  whom  slie  had 
ever  shown  the  utmost  kindness,  and  who,  never 
theless,  had  committed  against  her  citize  ns  tl)6 
most  unprovoked  depredations  ;  and  tliat  rhe  "^-ou-d 
lay  them  down  oiijy  when  certain  that  :lt«t 


Q8  LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON. 


waa-  attained.  *  "  Upon  tliose,"  continued  he,  "  who 
are  disposed  to  become  friendly,  I  neither  wish  nor 
intend  to  make  war ;  but  they  must  afford  evi- 
dences of  tlie  sincerity  of  tlieir  professions ;  the 
prisoners  and  property  they  have  taken  from  us, 
and  the  friendly  Creeks,  must  be  restored ;  the  in- 
stigators of  the  war,  and  the  murderers  of  our 
citizens,  must  be  surrendered ;  the  latter  must  and 
will  be  made  to  feel  the  force  of  our  resentment 
Long  shall  they  remember  Fort  Mimms  in  bitter 
ness  and  tears." 

Having  stated  to  General  Cocke,  whose  division 
was  acting  in  this  section  of  the  nation,  the  propo- 
sitions that  had  been  made  by  the  Hillabee  clans, 
with  the  answer  he  had  returned,  he  proceeded  to 
Deposit  and  Ditto's  Landing,  where  the  most  effec- 
tual means  in  his  power  were  taken  with  the  contrac 
tors,  for  obtaining  regular  supplies  in  future.  They 
were  required  to  furnish,  immediately,  thirty  days' 
rations  nt  Fort  Strother,  forty  at  Talladega,  and  aa 
many  at  the  junction  of  the  Coosa  and  Tallapoosa ; 
two  hundred  pack  horses  and  forty  wagons  were 
put  in  requisition  to  facilitate  th^ir  transportation. 


*  This  communication  did  not  arrive  in  time, — General  White, 
who  had  been  detached  for  that  purpose,  having,  the  morning  op 
which  it  was  written,  destroyea  tlieir  town.  Killed  sixty,  and 
made  two  huncbed  and  fifty-six  prisoners.  The  event  was  un 
forluiiate ;  and  in  it  may  perhaps  be  Ibnnd  tlie  reason  why 
these  savages,  in  their  after  battles,  fought  with  the  desperation 
they  did,  obsluiately  refusing  to  ask  for  quarter.  They  believed 
themselves  attacked  by  Jackson's  army;  they  knew  they  had 
asked  [)eace  upon  his  own  terms.  When,  therefore,  under  these 
circumstances,  they  saw  themselves  thus  assailed,  they  no  longer 
considered  that  any  pacific  disposition  they  might  manifest  woula 
afford  them  protection  from  danger ;  and  looked  upon  it  as  s 
war  of  extermination.  In  their  battles,  afterwards,  there  is  na 
instance  of  their  asking  for  quarter,  or  even  manifesting  a  dia 
ttosition  to  receive  it. 


MFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON.  69  ' 

Understanding,  now,  that  the  whole  detachment  j 
from  Tennef-see  had,  hy  the  president,  been  re-  i 
ceived  into  the  service  of  the  United  States,  he  j 
persuaded  himself  that  the  difficulties  he  had  I 
heretofore  encountered  would  not  recur.  | 

The  vo'unteers  at  Deposit  began  to  manifest  the  j 
same  unwillingness  to  return  to  their  duty  that  the  i 
militia  had  done,  and  were  about  to  break  out  into  | 
the  same  spirit  of  mutiny  and  revolt ;  but  were  | 
restrained  by  an  animated  address  by  the  general.  j 

He  now  set  out  on  his  retrrn  to  Fort  Strother,  | 
and  was  delighted  to  find,  by  the  progress  of  the  i 
works,  the  industry  that  had  been  used  in  his  ab- 
sence.   But  the  satisfaction  he  felt  was  of  short 
continuance  ;  although  he  had  succeeded  in  stilling  , 
the  tumult  of  the  volunteers,  and  in  prevailing  on  ^ 
them  to  return  to  their  posts,  it  was  soon  discovered  ; 
he  had  not  eradicated  their  deep-rooted  aversion  to 
a  further  prosecution  of  the  war.    The  volunteers  j 
who  had  so  lately  clamoured  about  bread,  when 
they  were  no  longer  hungry,  began  •  to  clamour.  i 
with  equal  earnestness,  about  their  term  of  service. 
Having  lately  made  an  effort  to  forsake  the  drudg- 
ery of  the  field,  and  failed,  they  were  disposed  to  j 
avail  themselves  of  any  pretexts,  seemingly  plausi-  I 
ble,  to  obtain  success.    They  insisted  that  the  I 
period,  for  which  they  had  undertaken  to  act,  wouIJ  j 
end  on  the  10th  of  December,  that  being  tlie  ter- 
mination of  a  year  from  the  day  they  had  first 
entered  into  service  ,  and,  although  tliey  had  been 
a  greater  part  of  the  time  unemployed,  that  recess 
was  nevertheless  to  be  taken  into  the  computation. 
Jackson  replied,  that  the  law  of  congress,  under 
which  they  had  been  accepted,  requiring  one  year's  ■ 


I 


0               LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON.  I 

I 

service  out  of  two,  could  contemplate  nothing  less  ; 
than  an  actual  service  of  three  hundred  and  sixty-  j 
five  days  ;  and,  until  that  were  performed,  he  could  j 
not,  unless  specially  authorized,  undertake  to  dis- 
charge them.   Ordering  General  Roberts  to  return, 
and  fill  up  the  deficiencies  in  his  brigade,  he  now 
despatched  Colonel  Carroll,  and  Major  Searcy,  one 
of  his  aids-de-camp,  into  Tennessee,  to  raise  vol- 
unteers for  six  months,  or  during  the  campaign ; 
writing  to  many  respectable  characters,  he  ex- 
horted them  to  contribute  all  their  assistance  to 
the  accomplishment  of  this  object.    To  a  letter, 
just  received  from  the  Reverend  Gideon  Black- 
burn, assuring  him  that  volunteers  from  Tennessee  | 
would  eagerly  hasten  to  his  relief,  if  they  knew  i 
their  services  were  wanted,  he  replied,  "  Reverend  i 
Sir, — Your  letter  has  been  just  received :  I  thank  , 
you  for  it ;  I  thank  you  most  sincerely.    It  arrived  j 
at  a  moment  when  my  spirits  needed  such  a  sup-  ; 
port. 

"  I  left  Tennessee  with  an  army,  brave,  I  be-  ' 

lieve,  as  any  general  ever  commanded.    I  have  \ 

seen  them  in  battle,  and  my  opinion  of  their  bravery  , 

is  not  changed.    But  their  fortitude — on  this  too  I  ■ 

relied — has  been  too  severely  tested.    Perhaps  I  , 

was  wrong,  in  believing  that  nothing  but  death  j 

could  conquer  the  spirits  of  brave  men.    I  am  sure  ; 

I  was ;  for  my  men,  I  know,  are  brave  ;  yet  priva  ' 

tioiis  have  rendered  them  discontented : — that  is  j 

enough.    The  expedition  nnist,  nevertheless,  be  ' 

prosecuted  to  a  successful  termination.    New  voV  I 

unleers  must  be  raised,  to  conclude  what  has  been  ' 
so  auspiciously  begun  by  the  old  ones.  Gladly 

would  I  save  these  men  from  themselves,  and  en  i 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON. 


71  I 


sure  them  a  harvest  which  they  have  sown ;  but  if 
ihey  will  abandon  it  to  others,  it  must  be  so. 

You  are  good  enough  to  say,  if  I  need  your 
assistance,  it  will  be  cheerfully  afibrded  :  I  do  need 
it  greatly.  The  influence  you  possess  over  the 
minds  of  men  is  great  and  well-founded,  and  can 
never  be  better  applied  than  in  summoning  volun- 
teers to  the  defence  of  their  country,  their  liberty, 
and  their  religion.  WhUe  we  fight  the  savage, 
who  makes  war  only  because  he  delights  in  blood, 
and  who  has  gotten  his  booty,  when  he  has  scalped 
his  victim,  we  are,  through  him,  contending  against 
an  enemy  of  more  inveterate  character,  and  deeper 
design — who  would  demolish  a  fabric  cemented  by 
the  blood  of  our  fathers,  and  endeared  to  us  by  all 
the  happiness  we  enjoy.  So  far  as  my  exertions 
can  contribute,  the  purposes,  both  of  the  savage 
and  his  instigator,  shall  be  defeated  :  and,  so  far 
as  yours  can,  I  hope — I  know,  they  will  be  employ- 
ed. I  have  said  enough. — I  want  men,  and  want 
them  immediately." 

He  wrote  to  General  Cocke,  urging  him  to  unite 
with  him  immediately,  at  the  Ten  Islands,  with 
fifteen  hundred  men.  He  assured  him  that  the 
mounted  men,  who  had  returned  to  the  settlements 
for  subsistence,  and  to  recruit  their  horses,  would 
arrive  by  the  12th  of  the  month.  He  wished  to 
commence  his  operations  directly,  "knowing  they 
would  be  prepared  for  it,  and  well  knowing  they 
would  require  it."  "  I  am  astonished,"  he  contin- 
ued, "  to  hear  that  your  supplies  continue  deficient 
[n  the  name  of  God,  what  are  the  contractors  doing? 
«nd  about  what  are  they  engaged  ?  Every  letter  ] 
receive  from  Governor  Blount  assurres  me  I  am  to 
receive  plentiful  supplies  from  them,  and  seems  to 


72 


LIFE   OP  GENERAL  JACKSON. 


take  for  granted,  notwithstanding  all  I  have  said  to 
the  contrary,  that  they  have  been  hitherto  regularly 
furnished.  Considering  the  generous  loan  the 
state  has  made  for  this  purpose,  and  the  facility  of 
procuring  bread  stuffs  in  East  Tennessee,  and  of 
transporting  them  by  water  to  Fort  Deposit,  it  is  to 
me  wholly  unaccountable  that  not  a  pound  has  ever 
arrived  at  that  place.  This  evil  must  continue  no 
longer — it  must  be  remedied.  I  expect,  therefore, 
and  through  you  must  require,  that  in  twenty  days 
they  furnish  at  Deposit  every  necessary  supply."* 

Whilst  these  measures  were  taking,  the  volun- 
teers, through  several  of  their  officers,  were  press- 
ing on  the  consideration  of  the  general,  the  ex- 
piration of  their  term  of  service,  and  claiming  to 
be  discharged  on  tlie  10th  of  the  month.  From 
the  colonel,  who  commanded  the  second  regiment, 
he  received  a  letter,  dated  the  4th,  in  which  was 
attempted  to  be  detailed  their  whole  ground  of 
complaint.  He  began  by  stating,  that,  painful  as  it 
was,  he,  nevertheless,  felt  himself  bound  to  dis- 
close an  important  truth ;  that,  on  the  10th,  the 
service  would  be  deprived  of  the  regiment  he  com- 
manded. He  seemed  to  deplore,  with  great  sensi- 
bility, the  scene  that  would  be  exhibited  on  that 
day,  should  opposition  be  made  to  their  departure : 
and  still  more  sensibly,  tbe  consequences  that  would 
result  from  a  disorderly  abandonment  of  the  camp. 
He  stated  they  liad  all  considered  themselves  finally 
discharged  on  the  20th  of  April,  and  never  knew 
to  the  contrary,  until  they  saw  his  order  of  the  24th 
of  September,  requiring  them  to  rendezvous  at 


*  Independent  of  an  advantageous  contract  made  with  the 
govemmenl,  the  stale  of  Tennessee  had  extended  to  this  con- 
tractor a  liberal  loan,  that  numediate  supplies  might  be  forwaro 


LIFE   OF   GENERAL   JACKS0I7.  73 

Fayetteville,  on  the  4th  of  October ;  for  the  first 
time,  they  then  learned  that  they  owed  further  ser- 
vices, their  discharge  to  the  contrary  notwithstand- 
ing. "  Thus  situated,  there  was  considerable  op- 
position to  the  order  ;  on  which  the  officers  gener- 
ally, as  I  am  advised,  and  I  know  myself  in  partic- 
ular, gave  it  as  an  unequivocal  opinion,  that  their 
term  of  service  would  terminate  on  the  10th  of 
December. 

"  They  therefore  look  to  their  general,  who  holds 
their  confidence,  for  an  honourable  discharge  on 
that  day ;  and  that,  in  every  respect,  he  will  see 
that  justice  be  done  them." 

Although  this  communication  announced  the  de- 
termination of  only  a  part  of  the  volunteer  brig- 
ade, he  had  already  abundant  evidence  that  the 
defection  was  but  too  general. 

"  I  know  not,"  he  observed,  "  what  scenes  will 
be  exhibited  on  the  10th  instant,  nor  what  con- 
sequences are  to  flow  from  them  here  or  else- 
where :  but,  as  I  shall  have  the  consciousness  that 
they  are  not  imputable  to  any  misconduct  of  mine, 
I  trust  I  shall  have  the  firmness  not  to  shrink  from 
a  discharge  of  my  duty. 

"  It  will  be  well,  however,  for  those  who  intend 
to  become  actors  in  those  scenes,  and  who  are 
about  to  hazard  so  much  on  the  correctness  of  their 
opinions,  to  examine  beforehand,  with  great  caution 
and  deliberation,  the  grounds  on  which  their  pre- 
tensions rest.  Are  they  founded  on  any  false 
assurances  of  mine,  or  upon  any  deception  that 
has  been  practised  towards  them  ?  Was  not  the 
act  of  congress,  under  which  they  are  engaged, 
directed,  by  my  general  order,  to  be  read  and  ex- 
pounded to  them  before  they  enrolled  themselves  ? 
7 


74                LIFE   or  GENERAL  JACKBOIT.  | 

That  order  will  testify,  and  so  will  the  recoliection  i 
of  every  general  officer  of  my  division.    It  is  not 
pretended  that  those  who  now  claim  to  be  dis-  I 
charged  were  not  legally  and  fairly  enrolled  under  j 
the  act  of  congress  of  the  6th  of  February,  1812.  \ 
Have  they  performed  the  service  required  of  them 
by  that  act,  and  which  they  then  solemnly  under- 
took to  perform  ?    That  required  one  year's  ser-  j 
vice  out  of  two,  to  be  computed  from  the  day  of  , 
rendezvous,  unless  they  should  be  sooner  discharg-  j 
ed.    Has  one  year's  service  been  performed  ?  This  ; 
cannot  be  seriously  pretended.    Have  they  then  j 
been  discharged It  is  said  they  have,  and  by  mc. 
To  account  for  so  extraordinary  a  belief,  it  may  be  ' 
necessary  to  take  a  review  of  past  circumstances."  ' 
*  ****** 

To  the  platoon  officers,  who  addressed  him  on  ^ 
the  same  subject,  he  replied  with  spirited  feeling  ; 

but  discontent  was  too  deeply  fastened,  and,  by  de-  ' 

signing  men,  had  been  too  artfully  fomented,  to  be  ' 

removed  by  any  thing  like  argument  or  entreaty.  ; 
At  length,  on  the  evening  of  the  9th,  General 

Hall  hastened  to  the  tent  of  Jackson,  with  informa-  | 

tion  that  his  whole  brigade  was  in  a  state  of  muti-  | 

ny,  and  making  preparations  to  move  forcibly  off  | 

This  was  a  measure  which  every  consideration  of  1 

policy,  duty,  and  honour,  required  Jackson  to  op-  ' 

pose  ;  and  to  this  purpose  he  instantly  applied  aU  ' 

the  means  he  possessed.    He  immediately  issued  I 

the  following  general  order  :  I 

"  The  commanding  general  being  informed  that  | 

an  actual  mutiny  exists  in  his  camp,  all  officers  and  ' 
soldiers  are  commanded  to  put  it  down. 

"  The  officers  and  soldiers  of  the  first  brigad*  I 

will,  without  delay,  parade  on  the  west  side  of  the  ; 

i 
i 


i 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON.  75  j 

fort,  and  await  further  orders."  The  artillery  com-  ^ 
pany,  with  two  small  field-pieces,  being  posted  in 
the  front  and  rear,  and  the  militia,  under  the  com- 
mand of  Colonel  Wynne,  on  the  eminences  in  j 
advance,  were  ordered  lo  prevent  any  forcible  de-  | 
parture  of  the  volunteers.  I 
The  general  rode  along  the  line,  which  had  been  I 
previously  formed  agreeably  to  his  orders,  and  ; 
addressed  them,  by  companies,  in  a  strain  of  un-  | 
passioned  eloquence.    He  feelingly  expatiated  on  i 
their  former  good  conduct,  and  the  esteem  and  ■ 
applause  it  had  secured  them ;  and  pointed  to  the 
disgrace  which  they  must  heap  upon  themselves,  > 
their  families,  and  country,  by  persisting,  even  if  I 
they  could  succeed,  in  their  present  mutmy.  He 
told  them,  however,  they  should  not  succeed  but  by 
passing  over  his  body  ;  that  even  in  opposmg  their  | 
mutinous  spirit,  he  should  perish  honourably — by  | 
perishing  at  his  post,  and  in  the  discharge  of  hia 
duty.  "  Reenforcements,"  he  continued,  "  are  pre-  j 
paring  to  hasten  to  my  assistance :  it  cannot  be 
long  before  they  will  arrive.    I  am,  too,  in  daily 
expectation  of  receiving  information  whether  you  j 
may  be  discharged  or  not — until  then,  you  must  I 
not,  and  shall  not  retire.    I  have  done  with  en-  | 
treaty, — it  has  been  used  long  enough. — I  will  , 
attempt  it  no  more.    You  must  now  determine  | 
whether  you  will  go  or  peaceably  remain  :  if  you  i 
sUll  persist  in  your  determination  to  move  forcibly  I 
off,  the  point  between  us  shall  soon  be  decided."  ' 
At  first  they  hesitated  ; — he  demanded  an  explicit  I 
and  positive  answer.    They  still  hesitated,  and  he 
commanded  the  artillerists  to  prepare  the  match ; 
he  himself  remainmg  in  front  of  the  volunteers,  I 
and  within  the  line  of  fire,  which  he  intended  soon  | 


76  LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON.  | 

to  order.    Alarmed  at  his  apparent  determination,  , 

and  dreading  the  consequences  involved  in  such  a 
contest;  "Let  us  return,"  was  presently  lisped 
along  the  line,  and  soon  after  determined  upon 
The  officers  now  came  forward,  and  pledged  them- 
selves for  tlieir  men,  who  either  nodded  assent,  or 
openly  expressed  a  willingness  to  retire  to  their 
quarters,  and  ren^ain  without  further  tumult,  until  ] 
information  were  had,  or  the  expected  aid  should 
arrive.  Thus  passed  away  a  moment  of  the  great- 
est peril,  and  pregnant  with  important  conse-  " 
quences.  > 

Although  the  immediate  execution  of  their  pur-  I 

pose  was  thus  for  the  present  prevented,  it  was  | 

presently  ascertained  not  to  be  wholly  abandoned,  ' 

and  that  nothing  could  be  expected  from  their  ! 

future  fidelity  and  services.    Jackson,  therefore,  j 

determined  to  rid  himself,  as  soon  as  possible,  of  : 

men  whose  presence  answered  no  other  end  than  \ 

to  keep  alive  discontents  in  his  camp.    He  accord-  . 

ingly  prepared  an  order  to  General  Hall,  to  march  | 

his  brigade  to  Nashville,  and  to  dispose  of  them  aa  | 

he  should  be  directed  by  the  governor  of  Tennes-  \ 

see.  Previous  to  promulgating  this,  he  resolved  j 
to  make  one  further  effort  to  retain  them,  and  to 

make  a  last  appeal  to  their  honour  and  patriotism  \ 

For  this  purpose,  having  assembled  them  before  the  j 

fort,  on  the  1 3th,  he  directed  his  aid-de-camp  to  ] 

read  an  address.  1 

Warm  and  feeling  as  was  the  appeal,  it  failed  1 
of  the  desired  effect.    Captain  Williamson  alone 

agreed  to  remain.    Finding  that  their  determina-  I 

tion  to  abandon  the  service  could  not  be  changed,  ! 

and  that  every  principle  of  patriotism  was  forgot-  ^ 

ten,  the  general  communicated  his  order  to  General  | 


1 


UFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON. 


77 


Hall,  and  directed  him  to  march  his  brigade  to 
Nashville,  and  await  such  instructions  as  he  might 
receive  from  the  president,  or  the  governor  of  Ten- 
nessee. 

General  Cocke,  on  the  12th,  had  arrived  at  Fort 
Strother  with  fifteen  hundred  men ;  but  it  was 
found  from  his  report,  that  no  part  of  his  troops 
had  been  brought  into  the  field  under  the  requisition 
of  the  president  of  the  United  States ;  and  that 
the  term  of  service  of  the  greater  portion  of  them 
would  expire  in  a  few  days,  and  of  the  whole 
in  a  few  weeks.  In  consequence  of  this,  he 
was  ordered  into  his  district,  to  comply  with  that 
requisition,  and  to  carry  back  with  him,  and  to  dis- 
charge near  their  homes,  those  of  his  troops,  the 
period  of  whose  service  was  within  a  short  time  of 
being  ended.  Colonel  LUliard's  regiment,  which 
consisted  of  about  eight  hundred,  and  whose  term 
of  service  would  not  expire  in  less  than  four  weeks, 
was  retained,  to  assist  iu  defending  the  present 
post,  and  in  keeping  open  the  communication  with 
Deposit,  untU  the  expected  reenforcements  should 
arrive  from  Tennessee. 

Meantime  the  cavalry  and  mounted  riflemen, 
who,  under  an  express  stipulation  to  return  and 
complete  the  campaign,  had  been  permitted  to  re- 
tire into  the  settlements,  had,  at  the  time  appointed, 
re-assembled  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Huntsville. 
But,  catching  the  infection  of  discontent  from  the 
infantry,  on  their  return  march,  they  began  now 
to  clamour  with  equal  earnestness  for  a  discharge. 
The  cavalry  insisted  that  they  were  as  well  entitled 
to  it  as  the  infantry ;  and  the  riflemen,  that  they 
could  not  be  held  in  service  after  the  24th,  that 
hsiDg  three  months  from  the  time  they  had  beeu 
7* 


8  MFE    OF   GENERAL  JACKSO^T. 

mustered  ;  and  that,  as  that  day  was  so  near  at  ! 
hand,  it  was  wholly  useless  to  advance  any  farther.  | 

General  Coffee,  who  was  confined  at  Huntsville 
by  severe  indisposition,  employed  all  the  means 
which  his  debilitated  strength  would  allow,  to  re- 
piove  the  dangerous  impressions  they  had  so  readily 
imbibed,  and  to  reclaim  them  to  a  sense  of  honour 
and  of  duty  ;  but  all  his  efforts  proved  unavailing.  ; 
He  immediately  ordered  his  brigade  to  head-quar  , 
ters  :  they  had  proceeded  as  far  as  Ditto's  Ferry,  | 
when  the  greater  part  of  them,  refiising  to  cross  j 
the  river,  returned  in  a  tumultuous  manner,  com-  \ 
mitting  on  the  route  innumerable  irregularitief)  ; 
which  there  was  no  force  sufficient  to  restrain  j 
Not  more  than  seven  hundred  of  the  brigade  could  ^ 
be  gotten  over  ;  who,  having  marched  to  Deposit,  i 
were  directed  to  be  halted,  until  further  orders 
could  be  obtained  from  General  Jackson.    At  this  • 
place  they  committed  the  wildest  extravagances ;  ' 
profusely  wasting  the  public  grain,  which,  with  ! 
much  difficulty  and  labour,  had  been  collected  for  | 
the  purpose  of  the  campaign  ;  and  indulging  in  ! 
every  species  of  excess.     Whilst  thus  rioting,  ' 
they  continued  to  clamour  vociferously  for  their  ! 
discharge.    General  Coffee,  finding  his  utmost  ef- 
forts ineffectual  to  restrain  or  to  quiet  them,  wrote  ] 
to  Jackson,  acquainting  him  with  their  conduct  and  | 
demands,  and  enclosing  a  petition  that  had  been  | 
addressed  to  him  by  the  rifle  regiment.    In  his  ' 
letter  he  says,  "  I  am  of  opinion  the  sooner  they  | 
can  be  gotten  clear  of  the  better ;  they  are  con- 
euming  the  forage  that  wiU  be  necessary  for  others,  : 
and  I  am  satisfied  they  will  do  no  more  good.    I  ! 
have  told  them  their  petition  would  be  submitted  ; 
to  you,  who  would  decide  upon  il  iu  the  ehorteat  : 


LIFE    OF    GE.^ERAL  JACKSOJf 


79 


possible  time."  This  was  truly  disagreeable  news 
to  the  general.  On  the  brigade  of  Coffee  he  had 
placed  great  reliance,  and,  from  the  pledges  it  had 
given  him,  entertained  no  fears  but  that  it  would 
return  and  act  with  him,  as  soon  as  he  should  be 
ready  to  proceed. 

The  signers  of  that  address,  observes  the  gen- 
eral, commence  by  saying,  "  that  jealousy  is  pre- 
vailing in  our  camp,  with  respect  to  the  understand- 
ing between  themselves  and  the  government  rela- 
tive to  the  service  required  of  them  ;  and,  believing 
it  to  be  its  policy  to  act  fairly,  are  of  opinion  that 
a  full  explanation  of  their  case  will  have  a  good 
effect  in  promoting  the  cause  in  which  they  are 
engaged." 

There  was  but  a  single  course  left ;  to  point 
fJiem  to  the  pledge  they  had  given,  and  appeal  di- 
rectly to  their  honour,  believing  that  if  this  were 
unsuccessful,  there  was  "  nothing  by  which  he 
could  hope  to  hold  them." 

Jackson  had  just  received  a  letter  from  the  gov- 
ernor of  Tennessee,  in  answer  to  his  frequent  and 
pressing  inquiries,  as  to  the  disposition  which  should 
be  made  of  the  volunteers.  It  recommended  what 
had  already,  from  necessity,  been  done  ;  to  dis- 
miss— not  discharge  them,  because  the  latter  wag 
not  in  the  power  of  either  of  them  : — nor  waa 
their  dismission  to  be  given  because  founded  in 
right ;  but  because,  under  existing  circumstances, 
their  presence  could  not  prove  beneficial,  but  highly 
injurious.  To  induce  them  contentedly  to  remain, 
the  governor  had  suggested  but  one  argument, 
which  had  not  already  been  unsuccessfully  attempt- 
ed ;  "  that  it  was  very  doubtful  if  the  government 
would  pay  them  for  the  services  they  had  alreadj 


80 


LIFE  OF  GENERA  JACKSON. 


1 


rendered,  if  abandoned  without  her  authority."  ' 
The  letter  was  therefore  enclosed  for  their  in- 
Epection,  accompanied  with  these  remarks : — "  I  ; 
have  just  received  a  letter  from  Governor  Blount,  j 
which  I  hasten  to  transmit,  that  you  may  avail 
yourselves  of  whatever  benefits  and  privilenfes  it  j 
holds  out.    You  will  perceive,  that  he  does  not  | 
consider  he  has  any  power  to  discharge  you : —  ! 
neither  have  I: — but  you  have  ray  permission  to 
retire  from  the  service,  if  you  are  still  desirous, 
and  are  prepared  to  risk  the  consequences." 

These  letters,  so  far  from  answering  the  desired 
end,  had  a  contrary  effect.    The  governor's  was  ' 
no  sooner  read,  than  they  eagerly  laid  hold  of  it 
to  support  the  resolution  they  had  already  formed  ;  | 
and,  without  further  ceremony  or  delay,  abandoned  | 
the  campaign,  with  their  colonel  at  their  head,  who, 
so  far  from  having  endeavoured  to  reconcile  them,  i 
is  believed,  by  secret  artifices,  to  have  fomented  | 
their  discontents. 

So  general  was  the  dissatisfaction  of  this  brig-  ; 
ade,  and  with  such  longing  anxiety  did  they  indulge  | 
the  hope  of  a  speedy  return  to  their  homes,  that 
their  impatience  did  not  permit  them  to  wait  the 
return  of  the  messenger  from  head-quarters.    Be-  , 
fore  an  answer  could  reach  General  Coffee,  they  , 
had  broken  up  their  encampment  at  Deposit,  re- 
crossed  the  river,  and  proceeded  four  miles  beyond 
Huntsville.    On  receiving  it.  Coffee  had  the  brig- 
ade drawn  up  in  solid  column,  and  the  letters,  > 
together  with  the  pledge  they  had  given,  read  to  j 
them ;  after  which  the  Reverend  Mr.  Blackburn  , 
endeavoured  in  an  eloquent  speech.  In  which  he  | 
pointed  out  the  ruinous  consequences  that  were  to  j 
b«  apprehended,  if  they  persisted  in  their  present  i 


LIKE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON. 


81 


purpose,  te  recall  them  to  a  sense  of  duty,  and  of 
honour  :  but  they  had  formed  their  resolution  too 
steadfastly,  and  had  gone  too  extravagant  lengths, 
to  be  influenced  by  the  letter,  the  pledge,  or  the 
speech.  As  to  the  pledge,  a  few  said  they  had 
not  authorized  it  to  be  made ;  others,  that,  as  the 
general  had  not  returned  an  immediate  acceptance, 
they  did  not  consider  themselves  bound  by  it;  but 
the  greater  part  candidly  acknowledged,  that  they 
stood  committed,  and  were  without  any  justification 
for  their  present  conduct.  Thus,  in  a  tumultuous 
manner,  they  abandoned  their  post  and  their  duty, 
and,  committing  innumerable  extravagances,  re 
gar(]lcss  alike  of  law  and  decency,  continued  their 
route  to  their  respectiTe  homes. 


82  UFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

DixonUids  of  the  militia. — Governor  Blount  recommends  an  aitit 
donment  of  Vm  servict. — Jackson's  reply  to  his  letter. — The 
governor  takes  measures  for  bringing  out  a  sufficient  force. — 
Conduct  of  General  Roberts. — His  brigade  retires  from  ser 
vice. — Lieutenant  Kearley. — Arrival  of  additional  foixes.— 
Arrest  of  offieers. — Expedition  against  the  Indians. — His 
motives. — Battle  of  Emuckfaw. — General  Coffee  proceeds  to 
destroy  tlie  enemy's  fortifications. — Second  battle  of  Emuck- 
faw.—  Troops  commeTKe  their  return  march. — AjnMiscade 
formed  by  the  Indians. — Battle  of  Emlichopco. 

But,  whilst  these  unfortunate  events  were  tran- 
spiring in  the  rear,  matters  were  far  from  wearing 
an  encouraging  aspect  at  head-quarters.  The 
brigade  of  West  Tennessee  militia,  consisting  of 
only  about  six  hundred,  imitating  the  evil  examples 
of  others,  began  to  turn  their  attention  towards 
home.  Believing  that  three  months  constituted  the 
tour  of  duty  contemplated  in  the  act  under  which 
they  engaged,  they  insisted  that  it  would  termin- 
ate on  the  4th  of  the  ensuing  month.  It  is  true, 
the  act  had  not  defined  the  term  of  their  engage- 
ment ;  but  it  had  specified  the  object  of  calling 
them  out,  viz.  to  subdue  the  Indians ; — and,  as  that 
object  had  not  yet  been  attained,  it  was  believed, 
that,  at  present,  they  were  not  entitled  to  a  dis- 
charge. These  troops,  although  raised  by  the 
State  authorities,  had  been,  by  the  particular  re- 
commendation of  the  legislature,  received  into  the 
service  of  the  general  government,  under  the  act 
of  congress  authorizing  the  president  to  call  out  a 
hundred  thousand  militia,  to  serve  for  six  months, 
unless  by  his  own  order  they  should  be  previously 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON. 


83 


dismissed.  The  nulitia  of  East  Tennessee,  having 
been  specially  mustered  into  service  for  three 
months,  would,  of  course,  be  entitled  to  claim  their 
dismissal  at  the  expiration  of  that  period ;  hence 
Colonel  Lilliard's  regiment,  which  constituted  more 
than  one  half  the  present  force  at  head-quarters, 
would  be  lost  to  the  service  on  the  14th  of  the 
next  month. 

With  the  failure  of  General  Cocke,  to  bring  into 
the  field  the  number  and  description  of  troops  which 
he  had  been  ordered  to  raise  under  the  requisition 
of  the  president,  as  well  as  with  the  temper  and 
demands  of  those  who  were  in  service,  Jack- 
eon  kepttlie  governor  of  Tennessee  correctly  ad- 
vised, and  omitted  no  opportunity  of  entreating 
him,  in  the  most  pressing  manner,  to  take  the 
earliest  measures  for  supplying  by  draft,  or  volun- 
tary enlistment,  the  present  deficiency,  as  well  as 
that  which,  from  every  appearance,  was  soon  to  be 
expected.  To  these  solicitations,  he  had  now  re- 
seived  the  governor's  answer,  who  stated,  that, 
having  given  an  order  to  bring  into  the  field  fifteen 
hundred  of  the  detached  militia,  as  was  required  by 
the  secretary  of  war,  and  a  thousand  volunteers, 
under  the  act  of  the  legislature  of  Tennessee  of  the 
24th  September,  he  did  not  feel  himself  authorized 
to  grant  any  new  mandate,  although  satisfied  that 
the  first  had  not  been  complied  with  ;  that  he  view- 
ed tiie  further  prosecution  of  the  campaign,  at- 
tended as  it  was  witli  so  many  embarrassments,  as 
a  fruitless  endeavour ;  and  concluded  by  recom- 
mending, as  advisable,  to  withdraw  the  troops  into 
the  settlements,  and  suspend  all  active  operations 
until  the  general  government  should  provide  more 
effectual  means  for  conducting  it  to  a  favourable 


84  UFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON.  | 

result.    Jackson,  far  from  having  any  intention  to  j 
yield  to  this  advice,  determined  to  oppose  it.  Still, 
however,  he  was  greatly  concerned  at  the  view  the  j 
chief  magistrate  of  his  state  seemed  to  take  of  a  ; 
question  of  such  vital  importance  ;  and  immediately 
proceeded  to  unfold  himself  fuUy,  and  to  suggest  ' 
the  course,  which,  he  believed,  on  the  present  oc-  I 
casion,  it  behooved  them  both  to  pursue  :  pointing  ' 
out  the  ruinous  consequences  that  might  be  expected 
to  result  from  the  adoption  of  the  measure  he  had  ' 
undertaken  to  recommend  : — he  continues :  j 
"  Had  your  wish,  that  I  should  discharge  a  part  ' 
of  my  force,  and  retire,  witli  the  residue,  into  the 
settlements,  assumed  the  form  of  a  positive  order,  , 
it  might  have  furnished  me  some  apology  for  pur-  | 
suing  such  a  course  ;  but  by  no  means  a  full  justi- 
fication.   As  you  would  have  no  power  to  give 
such  an  order,  I  could  not  be  inculpable  in  obeying,  | 
with  my  eyes  open  to  the  fatal  consequences  that 
would  attend  it.     But  a  bare  recommendation, 
founded,  as  I  am  satisfied  it  must  be,  on  the  artful 
suggestions  of  those  fire-side  patriots,  who  seek,  in  I 
a  failure  of  the  expedition,  an  excuse  for  their  own  i 
supineness, — and  upon  the  misrepresentations  of  the  j 
discontented  from  the  army,  who  wish  it  to  be  be-  j 
lieved,  that  the  difficulties  which  overcame  their  pat- 
riotism are  wholly  insurmountable — would  aSbrd  me 
but  a  feeble  shield  against  tlie  reproaches  of  my 
country  or  my  conscience.  Believe  me,  my  respected 
friend,  the  remarks  I  make  proceed  from  the  purest 
personal  regard.     If  you  would  preserve  your  ' 
reputation,  or  that  of  the  state  over  which  you  | 
preside,  you  must  take  a  straight-forward,  determin-  i 
ed  course  ;  regardless  of  the  applause  or  censure  | 
of  the  populace,  and  of  the  forebodings  of  that  | 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON. 


85 


dastardly  and  designing  crew,  whe,  at  a  time  bke  I 
this,  may  be  expected  to  clamour  continually  in 
vour  ears.    The  very  wretches  who  now  beset  ] 
you  with  evU  counsel,  will  be  the  first,  should  the 
measures  which  they  recommend  eventuate  in  dis-  ! 
aster,  to  call  down  imprecations  on  your  head,  and  | 
load  you  with  reproaches.    Your  country  is  in  dan-  J 
ger : — apply  its  resources  to  its  defence  !    Can  any 
course  be  more  plain  ?   Do  you,  my  friend,  at  such  | 
a  moment  as  the  present,  sit  witli  your  arms  folded,  I 
^nd  your  heart  at  eeise,  waiting  a  solution  of  your  ' 
^oubts,  and  a  definition  of  your  powers  ?   Do  you  \ 
wait  for  special  instructions  from  the  secretary  at  i 
war,  which  it  is  impossible  for  you  to  receive  in 
time  for  the  danger  that  threatens  ?   How  did  the  | 
venerable  Shelby  act,  under  similar  circumstances  ; 
or,  rather,  under  circumstances  by  no  means  so  | 
critical  ?    Did  he  wait  for  orders  to  do  what  every 
man  of  sense  knew — what  every  patriot  felt — to  be  ' 
right  ?    He  did  not ;  and  yet  how  highly  and  justly  ; 
did  the  government  extol  his  manly  and  energetic 
conduct !  and  how  dear  has  his  name  become  to 
every  friend  of  his  country  !  ' 

"  You  say,  that  an  order  to  bring  the  necessary 
^uota  of  men  into  the  field  has  been  given,  and  that  i 
of  course  your  power  ceases ;  and,  although  you 
Are  made  sensible  that  the  order  has  been  wholly  ! 
neglected,  you  can  take  no  measure  to  remedy  the  I 
omission.    Widely  different,  indeed,  is  my  opinion.  ; 
I  consider  it  your  imperious  duty,  when  the  men, 
caDed  for  by  your  authority,  founded  upon  that  of 
the  gorernmeni,  are  known  not  to  be  in  the  field, 
to  see  that  they  be  brought  there ;  and  to  take  im-  ' 
mediate  measures  with  the  officer,  who,  charged  J 
with  the  execution  of  your  order,  omits  or  neglects  j 
8  I 


1 


86  LIFE  OF  OKNERAL  JACKSON. 

to  do  it.    As  the  executive  of  the  state,  it  is  your  | 
duty  to  see  that  the  full  quota  of  troops  be  con- 
stantly kept  .'n  the  field,  for  the  time  they  have  | 
been  required.    You  are  responsible  to  the  govern-  | 
ment ;  your  oflBcer  to  you.    Of  what  avail  is  it,  to  ^ 
give  an  order,  if  it  be  never  executed,  and  may  be  : 
disobeyed  witii  impunity  ?    Is  it  by  empty  man-  ' 
dates  that  we  can  hope  to  conquer  our  enemies,  | 
and  save  our  defenceless  frontiers  from  butchery 
and  devastation  ?    Believe  me,  my  valued  friend,  j 
there  are  times  when  it  is  highly  criminal  to  shrink  | 
from  responsibility,  or  scruple  aoout  the  exercise  | 
of  our  powers.    There  are  times  when  we  must 
disregard  punctilious  etiquette,  and  think  only  of 
serving  our  country.    What  is  really  our  present 
situation  •    The  enemy  we  have  been  sent  to  sub- 
due may  be  said,  if  we  stop  at  this,  to  be  only  ex-  - 
asperated.  The  commander  in  chief.  General  Pinck- 
ney,  who  supposes  me  by  this  time  prepared  for 
renewed  operations,  has  ordered  me  to  advance 
and  form  a  junction  with  the  Georgia  army  ;  and,  | 
upon  the  expectation  that  I  wiU  do  so,  are  all  his  I 
arrangements  formed  for  the  prosecution  of  the 
campaign.    Will  it  do  to  defeat  his  plans,  and  jeop-  j 
ardize  the  saftty  of  the  Georgia  army  ?    The  geD-  ^ 
eral  government,  too,  believe,  and  have  a  right  to  , 
believe,  that  we  have  now  not  less  than  five  thou-  j 
sand  men  in  the  heart  of  the  enemy's  country  ;  and  ^ 
on  this  opinion  are  all  their  calculations  bottomed ;  | 
and  must  they  all  be  frustrated,  and  I  become  the  i 
instrument  by  which  it  is  done  ?    God  forbid !  I 

"  You  advise  me  to  discharge  or  dismiss  from  ser- 
vice, until  the  wUl  of  the  president  can  be  known,  | 
such  portion  of  the  mUitia  as  have  rendered  tliree  j 
months'  service.    This  advice  astonishes  me,  evea  ; 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON- 


87 


more  than  the  former.  I  have  no  such  discretiona- 
ry power  ;  and  if  I  had ,  it  would  be  impolitic  and 
ruinous  to  exercise  it.  I  believed  the  militia,  who 
were  not  specially  received  for  a  shorter  period, 
were  engaged  for  six  months,  unless  the  objects  of 
tlje  expedition  should  be  sooner  attained  ;  and  in 
this  opinion  I  was  greatly  strengthened  by  your 
letter  of  the  15th,  in  which  you  say,  when  answer- 
ing my  inquiry  upon  tliis  subject,  '  the  militia  are 
detached  for  six  months'  service  nor  did  I  know 
or  suppose,  you  had  a  different  opinion,  until  the 
arrival  of  your  last  letter.  This  opinion  must,  I 
suppose,  agreeably  to  your  request,  be  made  known 
to  General  Roberts's  brigade,  and  then  the  conse- 
quences are  not  difficult  to  be  foreseen.  Every 
man  belonging  to  it  will  abandon  me  on  the  4th  of 
next  month  ;  nor  shall  I  have  the  means  of  pre- 
venting it,  but  by  the  application  of  force,  which, 
under  such  circumstances,  I  shall  not  be  at  liberty 
to  use.  I  have  laboured  hard  to  reconcile  these  men 
to  a  continuance  in  service  until  they  could  be  hon- 
ourably discharged,  and  had  hoped  I  had,  in  a  great 
measure,  succeeded  ;  but  your  opinion,  operating 
with  their  own  prejudices,  will  give  a  sanction  to 
iheir  conduct,  and  render  useless  any  further  at- 
tempts. Thej  ..'ill  go  ;  but  I  can  neither  discharge 
nor  dismiss  them.  Shall  I  be  told,  that,  as  they  wUl 
go,  it  may  as  well  be  peaceably  permitted  ?  Can  that 
be  any  good  reason  why  I  should  do  an  unautho- 
rized act?  Is  it  a  good  reason  why  I  should  vio- 
late the  order  of  my  superior  officer,  and  evince  a 
willingness  to  defeat  the  purposes  of  my  govern- 
ment ?  And  wherein  does  the  '  sound  policy'  of 
the  measures  that  have  been  recommended  consist? 
or  in  what  way  are  they  'likely  to  pronote  the 


88 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON. 


public  good  ?'    Is  it  sound  policy  to  abandon  a  con» 

quest  thus  far  made,  and  deliver  up  to  havoc,  or  add  i 

to  the  number  of  our  enemies,  those  friendly  Creeka  ' 

and  Cherokees,  who,  relying  on  our  protection,  have  i 

espoused  our  cause,  and  aided  us  with  their  arms  ?  I 

Is  it  good  policy  to  turn  loose  upon  our  defenceless  I 

frontiers  five  thousand  exasperated  savages,  to  reek  i 

their  hands  once  more  in  the  blood  of  our  citizens  ?  i 

What !  retrograde  under  such  circumstances  !    I  \ 

will  perish  first.  No  ;  I  will  do  my  duty :  I  will  ] 
hold  the  posts  I  have  established,  until  ordered  to 

abandon  them  by  the  commanding  ^^eneral,  or  die  ] 

in  the  struggle  ; — long  since  have  I  determined  not  | 

to  seek  the  preservation  of  life  at  the  sacrifice  of  \ 
reputation. 

"  But  our  frontiers,  it  seiems,  are  to  be  defended  ; 
and  by  whom  ?    By  the  very  force  that  is  now  re 

commended  to  be  dismissed  :  for  I  am  first  told  to  | 

retire  into  the  settlements  and  protect  the  frontiers ,  | 

next,  to  discharge  my  troops ;  and  then,  that  no  i 

measures  can  be  taken  for  raising  others.    No,  my  ■ 

friend,  if  troops  be  given  me,  it  is  not  by  loitering  | 
on  the  frontiers  that  I  will  seek  to  give  protection 
— they  are  to  be  defended,  if  defended  at  all,  in  a 

very  difierent  manner  ; — by  carrying  the  war  into  i 

the  heart  of  the  enemy's  country.    All  other  hopes  j 

of  defence  are  more  visionary  than  dreams.    What,  ] 

then,  is  to  be  done  ?    I'll  tell  you  what.    You  have  ] 

only  to  act  with  the  energy  and  decision  the  crisis  j 

demands,  and  all  will  be  well.  Send  me  a  force  j 
engaged  for  six  months,  and  I  will  answer  for  the 

result ; — but  withhold  it,  and  all  is  lost, — the  repu-  • 

tation  of  the  state,  and  your's,  and  mine  along  with  ' 
it" 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON. 


89 


This  letter  had  considerable  effect  with  the  goT- 
ernor.  On  recei^^ng  it,  he  immediately  determined 
on  a  course  of  greater  efficiencj^  and  ordered  from 
the  second  division  twenty-five  hundred  of  the  nd- 
litia,  for  a  tour  of  three  months,  to  rendezvous  at 
FayettevUle  on  the  28th  of  January.  The  com- 
mand was  given  to  Brigadier-General  Johnston,  with 
orders  to  proceed,  v/ithout  delay,  to  Fort  Strother. 
He  instructed  General  Cocke  to  execute  the  order 
he  had  received  from  Jackson,  for  raising  from  his 
division  his  required  quota  of  troops,  and  to  bring 
them  to  the  field  as  early  as  possible. 

General  Roberts,  who  had  been  ordered  back  to 
supply  the  deficiencies  in  his  brigade,  returned  on 
the  27th  with  one  hundred  and  ninety-one  men, 
mustered  for  three  months.  Having  halted  them 
a  few  miles  in  rear  of  the  camp,  he  proceeded 
thither  himself,  to  learn  of  the  commanding  general, 
whether  the  troops  he  had  brought  on  would  be  re- 
ceived for  the  term  they  had  stipulated,  as  they 
were  unwilling  to  advance  farther  until  this  point 
was  settled.  Jackson  answered,  that  although  he 
greatly  preferred  they  should  be  engaged  for  six 
months,  yet  he  had  no  wish  to  alter  any  engagement 
made  with  General  Roberts,  and  would  gladly  re- 
ceive them  for  that  period.  Notwithstanding  this 
assurance,  for  some  unknown  cause,  they  suddenlv 
formed  the  determination  to  return  home,  without 
gaining  even  a  sight  of  the  camp.  To  the  miscon- 
duct of  their  general,  was  it  justly  to  be  attributed. 

The  careless  indifference  with  which  General 
Roberts  had  first  treated  the  affair  had  subsided ; 
■ad  his  fears  took  the  alarm  on  receiving  from  Gen- 
eral Jackson  an  order  to  parade  immediately  before 
the  fort  the  men  he  had  reported  aa  brought  into 
8* 


90  LIFE  OP  GENERAL  JACKSON 


the  field.    He  came  forward  to  excuse  what  had  | 

happened,  and  to  solicit  permission  to  go  in  pursuit  j 

of  the  refugees.    Overtaking  them,  at  the  distance  i 
of  twenty  miles,  he  endeavoured,  in  a  very  gentle 
manner,  to  soothe  their  discontents,  and  prevail  on 

them  to  return  ;  but,  having  been  discharged,  they  | 
laughed  at  the  folly  of  his  errand.     Unable  to 

effect  his  object,  he  remained  with  them  during  the  j 

night ;  and  in  the  morning  set  out  for  camp,  and  his  | 

new  recruits  for  home.    On  arriving  at  head-quajc-  | 
ters,  he  ascribed  his  failure  to  the  practices  of  cers. 
tain  officers,  whom  he  named,  and  who,  he  said'., 

had  stirred  up  a  spirit  of  mutiny  and  desertion;  , 

among  the  men  to  such  a  degree,  that  all  his  eflbrtSj  I 

to  retain  them  had  proved  unavailing.    Jackson,  j 

who  could  not  view  this  mcident  with  the  same  ] 

indifference  that  Roberts  did,  immediately  issued  an  I 

order,  directing  him  to  proceed,  forthwith,  in  pur-  ' 

suit  of  the  deserters,  and  have  them  brought  back.  I 
In  the  execution  of  this  order,  he  was  commanded 
to  call  to  his  aid  any  troops  in  the  United  States'' 

service  witiiin  the  county  of  Madison,  or  in  the  state  j 
of  Tennessee,  and  to  exert  all  his  power  and  au- 
thority, as  a  military  ofRcer,  within  his  own  brigade 

and,  in  the  event  he  should  not  be  able  to  collect  ] 

a  sufficient  force  to  march  them  safely  to  head-  I 

quarters,  to  confine  them  in  jails,  and  make  a  re-  ' 

port  thereof  without  delay.    This  order  was  ac-  1 

companied  with  an  assurance,  that  all  who  should  ! 

return  willingly  to  their  duty,  except  those  officers  1 

who  had  been  reported  as  the  instigators,  would  be  j 

pardoned.    Many  of  the  men,  and  several  of  the  ' 

officers,  who  had  been  charged  as  encouraging  the  | 

•evolt,  learning  the  nature  of  the  proceedings  which  j 

were  about  to  be  enforced  against  them,  returned  of '  I 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON. 


91 


their  own  accord  to  camp ;  and  concurred  in  aa- 
cribing  their  late  misconduct  entirely  to  their  gen- 
eral. He  was  afterwards  arrested,  and,  upon  this 
and  other  charges  exhibited  against  him,  sentenced 
by  a  court-martial  to  be  cashiered. 

The  day  arrived,  when  that  portion  of  the  militia, 
which  had  continued  in  service,  claimed  to  be  dis- 
charged ;  and  insisted  that,  whetlier  this  were  given 
to  them  or  not,  they  would  abandon  the  campaign, 
Ujjd  return  home.  Jackson  believed  them  not  en- 
/t^tled  to  it,  and  hence,  that  he  had  no  right  to  give 
^t ;  but,  since  Governor  Blount  had  said  differently, 
,and  his  opinion  had  been  promulgated,  he  felt  it  to 
i)e  improper  that  he  should  attempt  the  exercise  of 
.authority  to  detain  them.  Nevertheless,  believing 
it  to  be  his  duty  to  keep  them,  he  issued  a  general 
.order,  comn\anding  all  persona  in  the  service  of  the 
,Unued  States,  under  his  command,  not  to  leave  the 
encampment  without  his  written  permission,  under 
■the  penalties  annexed,  by  the  rules  and  articles  of 
swar,  to  the  crime  of  desertion.  This  was  accom- 
ipanied  by  an  address,  in  which  Jjiey  were  exhorted, 
by  all  those  motives  which  he  supposed  would  be 
most  likely  to  have  any  influence,  to  remain  at 
their  posts  until  they  could  be  legally  discharged. 
Neither  the  order  nor  the  address  availed  any  thing. 
On  the  morning  of  the  4th  of  January,  the  officer 
of  the  day  reported,  that  on  visiting  his  guard,  half 
after  ten  o'clock,  he  found  neither  the  officer,  (Lieu- 
tenant Kearley,)  nor  any  of  the  sentinels  at  their 
posts.  Upon  this  mformation,  General  Jackson  or- 
dered the  arrest  of  Kearley,  who  refused  to  sur- 
render his  sword,  alleging  it  should  protect  him  to 
Tennessee  ;  that  he  was  a  free  man,  and  not  subject 
io  the  orders  of  General  Jackson,  or  any  body  els« 


92  LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON. 

This  being  made  known  to  the  general,  he  issued,  i 
immediately,  this  order  to  the  adjutant-general ;  i 
*'  You  will  forthwith  cause  the  guards  to  parade,  j 
with  Captain  Gordon's  company  of  spies,  and  arrest  ' 
Lieutenant  Kearley  ;  and,  in  case  you  shall  be  re-  I 
sisted  in  the  execution  of  this  order,  you  are  com-  | 
manded  to  oppose  force  to  force,  and  arrest  him  at  I 
all  hazards.    Spare  the  effusion  of  blood,  if  possi-  , 
ble ;  but  mutiny  must  and  shall  be  put  down."  I 
Colonel  Sitler,  with  the  guards  and  Gordon's  com-  ! 
pany,  immediately  proceeded  in  search,  and  found 
him  at  the  head  of  his  company,  on  the  lines,  which  | 
were  formed,  and  about  to  be  marched  off.  He 
was  ordered  to  halt,  but  refused.    The  adjutant  ' 
general,  finding  it  necessary,  directed  the  guards  > 
to  stop  him  ;  and  again  demanded  his  sword,  which  ' 
he  again  refused  to  deliver.   The  guards  were  com- 
manded to  fire  on  him  if  lie  did  not  hnmediately  de- 
liver it,  and  had  already  cocked  their  guns.    At  ' 
this  order,  tlie  lieutenant  cocked  his,  and  his  men 
followed  the  example.    General  Jackson,  informed  \ 
of  what  was  passing,  had  hastened  to  the  scene,  i 
and,  arriving  at  this  moment,  personally  demanded 
of  Kearley  his  sword,  which  he  still  obstinately  re  | 
fused  to  deliver.     Incensed  at  his  conduct,  ani  i 
viewing  the  example  as  too  dangerous  to  be  passed  i 
in  silence,  he  snatched  a  pistol  from  his  holster  ! 
and  was  already  levelling  it  at  the  breast  of  Kear  i 
ley,  when  the  adjutant-general,  interposing  between  ' 
them,  urged  him  to  surrender  his  sword.    At  thia  ' 
moment,  a  friend  of  the  lieutenant,  who  was  present.  I 
drew  it  from  the  scabbard,  and  presented  it  to  Colo- 
nel Sitler,  who  refused  to  receive  it.    It  was  then  j 
returned  to  Kearley,  who  now  delivered  it,  and  waa  i 
placed  under  guard.    During  this  crisis,  both  pu«  { 


I 


LIFE   OF  GENERAL  JACKSON. 


93 


ties  remained  with  their  arms  ready,  and  prepared 
for  firing  ;  and  a  scene  of  bloodshed  was  narrowly 
escaped. 

Kearley,  confined,  and  placed  under  guard,  be- 
came exceedingly  penitent,  and  supplicated  the 
general  for  a  pardon.  He  stated  that  the  absence 
of  the  sentinels  from  their  post  had  been  owing  to 
the  advice  of  the  brigade-major  ;  that  not  delivering 
his  sword,  when  first  demanded,  was  attributable  to 
the  influence  of  others,  who  had  persuaded  him  it 
was  not  his  duty  to  do  so  ;  that  he  had  afterwards 
come  to  the  determination  to  surrender  himself,  but 
was  dissuaded  by  those  who  assured  him  it  would 
oe  a  sacrifice  of  character,  and  that  they  would 
ihare,  and  protect  him,  in  the  hour  of  danger ;  why 
ae  still  resisted,  in  the  presence  of  the  general, 
was,  that,  being  at  the  head  of  his  company,  and 
laving  undertaken  to  carry  them  home,  he  was  re- 
strained, at  the  moment,  by  a  false  idea  of  honour. 
Phis  application  was  aided  by  certificates  of  several 
of  the  most  respectable  officers  then  in  camp,  at- 
testing his  previously  uniform  good  behaviour,  '^A 
expressing  a  belief  that  his  late  misconduct  was 
wholly  to  be  attributed  to  the  intcrfc-ence  of  others. 
Influenced  by  these  reasons,  the  general  thought 
proper  to  order  his  liberation,  and  his  sword  to  be 
restored.  Never  was  a  man  more  sensible  of  the 
favour  he  had  received,  or  more  devoted  to  his 
benefactor,  than  he  afterwards  became. 

While  these  proceedings  were  taking  place,  the 
rest  of  the  brigade,  with  the  exception  of  Captain 
Willis's  company,  and  twenty-nine  of  his  men,  con- 
tmued  their  march  towards  home,  leaving  behind, 
for  the  further  prosecution  of  the  campaign,  and 
the  defence  of  Fort  Strother,  a  single  regiment  of 


94                LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON.  ' 

militia,  whose  term  of  service  was  within  a  few  j 

weeks  of  expiring ;  two  small  companies  of  spies,  i 

and  one  of  artillery.  I 

Difficulties  were  constantly  pressing  ;  and  whilst  ' 
one  moment  gave  birth  to  expectation,  the  next 
served  but  to  destroy  it.    Jackson  had  been  ad- 
vised, and  was  buoyed  by  the  hope,  that  adequate 
numbers  would  shortly  come  to  his  relief ;  and,  un-  I 
til  this  could  be  accomplished,  it  was  desirable  to  j 
retain  those  who  then  were  with  him,  to  give  to  . 
his  posts  increased  protection.    Whilst  measures  i 
were  adopting  in  Tennessee  to  effect  this  fully, 
about  a  thousand  volunteers  were  moving  out,  to 
preserve  an  appearance  of  opposition,  and  keep  se-  j 
cure  what  had  been  already  gained.    With  this  \ 
force,  added  to  what  he  already  had,  if  in  his  power 
to  keep  them,  he  believed  he  would  be  able  to  ad- 
vance on  the  enemy,  make  a  diversion  in  favour  of  ! 
the  Georgia  army,  and  obtain  other  important  advan-  | 
tages.    With  this  view,  he  had  addressed  this  regi-  I 
mant,  and  brought  before  them  such  considerations  ' 
as  might  be  supposed  calculated  to  exciU;  a  soldier's  | 
ardour.    But  tiiey  almost  unanimously  refused  to  re- 
main beyond  the  period  of  their  engagemf^nt. 

As  nothing  but  an  unnecessary  consumption  of 

supplies  was  now  to  be  expected  from  detaining  | 

troops  so  spiritless,  orders  were  given  for  taking  up  i 

the  line  of  march  to  Fort  Armstrong,  on  the  10th ;  ^ 

whence  they  were  directed  to  proceed  to  Knox-  j 
ville,  and  receive  orders  for  their  discharge. 

Meantime,  the  volunteers,  lately  raised,  had  ar-  ] 

rived  at  Huntsville,  where  they  had  been  directed  ; 

to  remain  until  sufficient  supplies  could  be  had  at  1 

head-quarters.    Could  they  have  proceeded  direct-  I 

ly  ou,  they  would  liave  reached  the  general  suffi  | 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON.  9S 

ciently  early  to  have  enabled  him  to  proceed  against 
the  enemy  before  the  period  at  which  the  remnant 
of  his  troops  would  have  been  entitled  to  a  dis- 
charge. His  exertions  to  have  in  readiness  the 
arrangements  necessary  to  the  accomplishment  of 
this  end,  had  been  indefatigable.  General  Cocke 
had  been  directed  to  give  instructions  to  his  quar- 
ter-master, to  forward  to  Fort  Strother  such  pro- 
visions as  should  arrive  at  Fort  Armstrong  ;  to  pro- 
ceed thence  to  Ross's,  and  make  arrangements  for 
the  speedy  transportation,  from  that  place  to  De- 
posit, of  all  the  bread  stuff  which  the  contractor 
had  been  required  to  collect  at  that  depot;  and  to 
have  procured  a  competent  supply  of  that  article, 
as  well  for  the  troops  then  in  the  field,  as  for  those 
which  had  been  ordered  to  be  raised.  The  more 
certainly  to  effect  this  object,  he  had,  on  the  20th 
of  December,  despatched  his  own  quarter-master 
and  adjutant-general  to  Deposit  and  Huntsville,  to 
push  on  what  should  be  collected  at  those  places  ; 
and  had,  at  the  same  time,  despatched  one  of 
the  sub-contractors  from  camp,  with  directions  to 
examine  the  situation  of  the  different  depots  ;  and, 
if  found  insufficient  to  meet  the  requisition  he  had 
made,  to  proceed  immediately  to  the  settlements 
in  Tennessee,  and  procure  the  necessary  supplies. 
To  the  contractors  themselves  he  had  addressed 
orders  and  exhortations  almost  without  number  ; 
and,  indeed,  from  every  source,  and  through  every 
channel  that  the  hope  of  relief  could  be  discerned, 
had  he  directed  his  exertions  to  obtain  it. 

On  tlie  second  of  January,  Colonel  Carroll  and 
Mr.  Blackburn  arrived  at  head-quarters,  to  receive 
instructions  how  the  volunteers  should  be  organized 
and  brought  up.    Having  reported  their  strength  to 


96 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACU.SON. 


be  eight  hundred  and  fifty,  they  were  directed  to. 
have  them  formed,  as  had  been  desired,  into  two-  i 
regiments,  under  officers  of  their  own  choice  ;  and 
an  order  was  put  into  their  hands,  requiring  Gene-  I 
ral  Coffee,  who  was  then  at  Huntsville,  to  marcli  j 
them  to  Fort  Strother,  by  the  10th  instant    That  j 
officer,  whose  feelings  had  heen  sufficiently  bar-  | 
rowed  by  the  late  conduct  and  defection  of  his  ■ 
brigade,  learning  that  those  troops  were  unwilling 
for  him  to  have  command  of  them,  had  expressed  a 
wish  to  General  Jackson  that  it  might  not  be  as- 
signed him  ;  in  consequence  of  which,  and  their  own.  , 
request,  the  latter  had  determined,  after  their  arri- 
val at  his  camp,  that  there  should  be  no  intermediate  ] 
commander  over  them,  between  their  colonels  and  j 
himself.    With  this  proposed  arrangement,  those  ] 
gentlemen  had  been  instructed  to  maiie  the  troops  ] 
acquadnted  ;  and  were  particularly  requested  to  use  j 
their  best  endeavours  to  remove  any  erroneous  im-  I 
pressions  that  might  have  been  made  upon  their  i 
minds. 

General  Coffee,  having  received  the  instructions  | 
of  General  Jackson,  immediately  gave  orders  to  ' 
Colonels  Perkins  and  Higgins,  who  had  been  chosen  ] 
to  the  command  of  the  two  regiments,  to  march  di-  \ 
rectly  for  head-quarters.  To  his  entire  astonish-  | 
ment,  both  these  officers  refused  to  obey  ;  alleg--  ] 
ing,  in  a  written  statement  they  made,  tliat  General;  . 
Coffee  had  no  right  to  exercise  conmiand  over  them,,  i 
and  that  they  would  disregard  any  he  might  at-  | 
tempt  to  claim.  One  of  them  not  only  refused  obe-  | 
dience  to  the  order,  but  even  went  so  far  as  to  re  ' 
ftise  to  return  it,  or  permit  the  brigade-inspector  to 
take  a  copy  ;  thereby  placing  it  out  of  his  power  to.  I 
make  it  known  to  the  rest  of  the  brigade. 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON.  97 


Unwilling  as  Coffee  was  to  create  any  additional 
perplexities  to  the  conunanding  general,  he  felt 
himself  constrained  to  demand  the  arrest  of  those 
officers. 

Notwithstanding  the  weighty  considerations 
which  had  been  urged  to  produce  an  expeditious 
movement,  it  was  not  until  the  13th  that  those  offi- 
cers, with  their  regiments,  reached  head-quarters. 
Finding  they  were  likely  to  be  noticed,  on  charges 
which  their  better-informed  friends  advised  would 
not  only  deprive  them  of  command,  but  involve 
them  in  disgrace,  they  immediately  made  an  hon- 
ourable concession,  in  which  they  pleaded  igno- 
rance of  military  duty,  as  an  excuse  for  their  mis- 
conduct. 

The  whole  effective  force  consisted,  at  this  time, 
by  the  reports,  of  little  more  than  nine  hundred 
men. 

Being  addressed  by  the  general,  on  the  15th, 
the  mounted  troops  commenced  their  march  to  We- 
hogee  Creek,  three  mUes  from  the  fort.  Jackson, 
with  his  staff,  and  the  artUlery  company,  joined 
tliem  next  morning,  and  continued  the  line  of  march 
to  Talladega,  where  about  two  hundred  friendly 
Indians,  Cherokees  and  Creeks,  badly  armed,  and 
much  discouraged  at  the  weakness  of  his  force, 
were  added  to  his  numbers,  without  increasing 
much  his  strength.  Seldom,  perhaps,  has  there 
been  an  e:&pedition  undertaken,  fraught  with  great- 

i  er  peril.  Nine  hundred  new  recruits,  entirely  un- 
acquainted with  the  duties  of  the  field,  were  to  be 
marched  into  the  heart  of  an  enemy's  country, 
without  a  single  hope  of  escape,  but  from  victory, 

i  and  that  victory  not  to  be  expected,  but  from  the 
wiscitt  precaution,  and  moot  determined  bravery. 
9 


98  LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON. 

Although  so  obviously  pregnant  with  danger,  to  | 
march  was  the  only  alternative  that  could  be  adopt-  | 
ed.    No  other  could  afford  a  diversion  favourable  | 
to  General  Floyd,  who  was  advancing  with  the  ar-  I 
my  from  Georgia,  or  give  favourable  results  to  the 
campaign,  without  which  it  must  soon  have  been  I 
abandoned,  for  want  of  men  to  prosecute  it.    An-  ' 
other  reason  rendered  such  a  movement  indispen-  j 
sable.    The  officer  commanding  at  Fort  Armstrong 
had  received  intelligence,  that  the  warriors  from  i 
fourteen  or  fifteen  towns  on  the  Taliapoosa  were 
about  to  unite  their  forces,  and  attack  that  place  ;  ! 
which,  for  the  want  of  a  sufficient  garrison,  was  in  j 
a  defenceless  situation.    Of  this  General  Jackson 
had  been  advised.    The  present  movement,  hazard- 
ous as  it  was,  was  indispensable,  and  could  alone 
prevent  the  execution  of  such  a  purpose.   On  reach-  ', 
ing  Talladega,  he  received  a  letter  from  the  com-  j 
mandant  at  Fort  Armstrong,  confirmatory  of  the  j 
first  information.    One  also  from  Geaeral  Pinckney,  ^ 
by  express,  arrived,  advising  him  that  Floyd,  on  the  j 
10  th  instant,  would  move  from  Coweta,  and,  in  ten  | 
days  thereafter,  establish  a  position  at  Tuckabat-  | 
chee :  and  recommended,  if  his  force  would  allow  ' 
him  to  do  no  more,  that  he  should  advance  against  i 
such  of  the  enemy's  towns  as  might  be  within  con- 
venient distance  ;  that,  by  having  his  troops  em-  j 
ployed,  he  might  keep  disaffection  from  his  ranks, 
and  be,  at  the  same  time,  serviceably  engaged  in  i 
harassing  the  enemy.    If,  therefore,  he  could  have  | 
hesitated  before,  there  was  now  no  longer  any  room  j 
to  do  so.    By  an  expeditious  movement,  he  might 
save  Fort  Armstrong,  and  render  an  essential  ser-  i 
vice  to  General  Floyd,  by  detaching  a  part  of  the  j 
clans  destined  to  proceed  against  him.  ' 


LIFE  OP  GENERAL  JACKSON. 


99 


As  he  progressed  on  the  march,  a  want  of  the 
necessary  knowledge  in  his  pilots,  of  subordination 
in  his  troops,  and  skill  in  the  officers  who  com- 
manded them,  became  more  and  more  apparent; 
but  still  their  ardour  to  meet  the  enemy  was  not 
abated. 

On  the  evening  of  the  21st,  sensible,  from  the 
trails  he  had  fallen  in  upon,  fresh,  and  converging 
to  a  point,  that  he  must  be  in  the  neighbourhood  of 
the  enemy,  Jackson  encamped  his  little  army  in  a 
hollow  square,  on  an  eligible  site,  upon  the  eminen- 
ces of  Emuckfaw,  sent  out  his  spies,  posted  his 
pickets,  doubled  his  sentinels,  and  made  the  neces- 
sary arrangements  to  guard  against  attack.  About 
midnight  the  spies  came  in  and  reported  they  had 
discovered  a  large  encampment  of  Indians,  at  about 
three  miles  distance,  who,  from  their  whooping  and 
dancing,  were  no  doubt  apprized  of  his  arrival. 
Every  thing  was  ready  for  tlieir  reception,  if  they 
meditated  an  attack,  or  to  pursue  in  the  morning, 
if  they  did  not.  At  the  dawn  of  day,  the  alarm- 
gune  of  our  sentinels,  succeeded  by  shrieks  and 
savage  yells,  announced  their  presence.  They 
commeaced  a  furious  assault  on  the  left  flank,  com- 
manded by  Colonel  Higgins,  which  was  met  with 
great  firmness.  General  Coffee,  and  Colonels  Car- 
roll and  Sitler,  instantly  repaired  to  the  point  of 
attack,  and,  by  example  and  exhortation,  encouraged 
the  men  to  a  performance  of  their  duty.  The  ac- 
tion raged  for  half  an  hour ;  the  brunt  of  which 
being  against  the  left  wing,  it  had  become  consid- 
erably weakened.  It  being  now  sufficiently  light 
to  ascertain  the  position  of  the  enemy,  and  Cap- 
tain Ferril's  company  having  reenforced  the  left 
wing,  the  whole  charged,  under  General  Coffoe, 


100  LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON. 

and  a  route  immediately  ensued.    The  friendly 
Indians  joining  in  the  pursuit,  they  were  chased  | 
about  two  miles,  with  considerable  loss.    We  had  ] 
five  killed,  and  twenty  wounded.    Until  it  became  i 
light  enough  to  discern  objects,  our  troops  derived  , 
considerable  advantage  from  their  camp  fires  ;  these 
laving  been  placed  at  some  distance  without  the 
encampment,  afforded  a  decided  superiority  in  a 
night  attack,  by  enabling  those  within  to  fire  with  | 
great  accuracy  on  an  approaching  enemy,  whilst  ! 
they  themselves  remained  invisible. 

The  pursuit  being  over,  Jackson  detached  Cof-  | 
fee,  with  the  Indians,  and  four  hundred  men,  to 
destroy  the  enemy's  encampment,  unless  he  should  | 
find  it  too  strongly  fortified ;  in  which  event,  he  j 
was  to  give  information  immediately,  and  wait  the 
arrival  of  the  artillery.     Coffee,  having  recon- 
noitred this  position,  and  found  it  too  strong  to  be  i 
assailed  with  the  force  he  commanded,  returned  to  i 
camp.    He  had  not  returned  more  than  half  an  i 
hour,  when  a  severe  fire  was  made  upon  the  pickets,  i 
posted  on  the  right,  accompanied  with  prodigious  j 
yelling.    General  Coffee  proceeded  to  turn  the  left  ' 
flank  of  the  assailants.    This  detachment  being  j 
taken  from  different  corps,  he  placed  himself  at  j 
their  head,  and  moved  briskly  forward.    Those  in  | 
the  rear,'  availing  themselves  of  this  circumstance, 
continued  to  drop  off,  one  by  one,  without  his 
knowledge,  until  the  whole  number  left  with  him  I 
did  not  exceed  fifty.    It  was  fortunate  that  the  ' 
force  of  the  enemy  he  had  first  to  attack  was  not  ^ 
greater.    He  found  them  occupying  a  ridge  of 
open  pine  timber,  covered  with  low  underwood,  i 
which  afforded  them  many  opportunities  for  con-  I 
cealraent.    To  deprive  them  of  this  advantage,  I 


I 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  MCKSON. 


101 


Coffee  ordered  his  men  to  dismount  and  charge 
them.  This  order  was  promptly  obeyed,  and  some 
loss  sustained  in  its  execution  ;  the  general  himself 
was  wounded  through  the  body,  and  his  aid.  Major 
Donelson,  killed  by  a  ball  through  the  head  ; — three 
of  his  men  also  fell.  The  enemy,  driven  back  by 
the  charge,  took  refuge  on  the  margin  of  a  creek, 
covered  with  reeds,  where  they  lay  concealed. 

The  saveges,  having  intended  the  attack  on  the 
right  as  a  feint,  now,  with  their  main  force,  which 
had  been  concealed,  made  a  violent  onset  on  our 
left  line,  which  they  hoped  to  find  in  disorder. 
General  Jackson,  however,  who  had  apprehended 
their  design,  was  prepared  to  meet  it:  this  line 
Jiad  been  ordered  to  remain  firm  in  its  position ; 
and,  when  the  first  gun  was  heard  in  that  quarter, 
lie  repaired  thither  in  person,  and  strengthened  it 
■by  additional  forces.  The  first  advance  of  the 
enemy  was  sustained  with  firmness,  and  opposed 
with  great  gallantry.  The  battle  was  now  main- 
tained on  the  part  of  the  assailants,  by  quick  and 
irregular  firing,  from  behind  logs,  trees,  shrubbery, 
and  whatever  could  afford  concealment :  behind 
these,  prostrating  themselves  after  firing,  and  re- 
loading, they  would  rise  and  pgain  discharge  their 
guns.  After  sustaining  their  fire  in  this  way  for 
some  time,  a  charge,  to  dislodge  them  from  their 
position,  was  ordered :  and  the  whole  line  under 
Colonel  Carroll,  by  a  most  brilliant  and  steady 
movement,  threw  them  into  confiision,  and  they  fled 
precipitately  away. 

In  the  mean  time,  General  Coffee  had  been  en 
deavouring  to  drive  the  savages  on  the  right  from 
the  fastnesses  into  which  they  had  retired :  but,  find- 
ing tiiat  this  could  not  be  done  without  hazard  and 
9  * 


102  LIFE   OF   GENERAL  JACKSOIV. 

loss,  he  began  to  retire  towards  the  place  where  ] 
he  had  first  dismounted.   This  expedient,  designed  I 
for  stratagem,  produced  the  desired  effect.    The  \ 
enemy,  inspirited  by  the  movement,  presuming  it  | 
a  retreat,  forsook  their  hiding-places,  and  rapidly  ] 
advanced  upon    him.    That  oflScer  immediately  j 
availed  himself  of  the  opportunity  thus  afforded  i 
of  contending  with  them  again  on  equal  terms  ; 
and  a  severe  conflict  commenced,  and  continued 
about  an  hour,  in  which  the  loss  on  both  sides  waa  ' 
nearly  equal.    At  this  critical  juncture,  when  seve-  | 
ral  of  the  detachments  had  been  killed,  many  | 
wounded,  and  the  whole  greatly  exhausted  with  ' 
fatigue,  the  dispersion  of  the  enemy  being  effect- 
ed on  the  left,  a  reenforcement  was  despatched  by  ' 
General  Jackson,  which,  making  its  appearance  on  ! 
the  enemy's  left  flank,  put  an  end  to  the  contest 
General  Coffee,  although  severely  wounded,  still  j 
continued  the  fight,  and,  availing  himself  of  the  ar-  ] 
rival  of  this  additional  strength,  instantly  ordered  a 
charge ;  when  the  enemy,  foreseeing  their  doom  ', 
fled  in  consternation,  and  were  pursued  with  dread-  | 
ful  slaughter.    It  is  believed  that  at  this  place 
none  escaped.    Thus  drew  to  a  close  a  day  of 
almost  continual  fighting.* 

Having  buried  the  dead,  and  dressed  the  wound-  * 

ed,  preparations  were  made  to  guard  against  an  at-  ; 

"  The  Indians  had  designed  their  plan  of  operations  well,  ' 
though  the  execution  did  not  succeed.    It  was  intended  to  brinff  ' 
on  the  attack  at  three  different  points,  at  the  same  time ;  but  a 
party  of  the  Chealegrans  one  of  the  tribes  which  compose  the 
Oreek  confederacy,  who  nad  been  ordered  to  assail  the  right  ex-  ' 
tremity  of  our  front  line,  instead  of  doing  so,  thought  it  more  pro-  I 
dent  to  proceed  to  their  villages,  happy  to  have  passed,  undis-  j 
covered,  the  point  they  had  been  ordered  to  attack.    But  for  this,  i 
the  contest  might  have  terminated  less  advaatageously,  perhap* 
disastrously. 


LIFK  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON.  lOS 

i 

tack  by  night,  by  erecting  a  breast-work  of  timber 
around  the  encampment ;   a  measure  the  more 

necessary,  as  the  spirits  of  our  troops,  most  of  ! 

whom  had  never  before  been  in  colhsion  with  an  | 
enemy,  were  observed  visibly  to  flag,  towards  the 

evening.    Indeed,  during  the  night,  it  was  with  1 

the  utmost  difficulty  the  sentinels  could  be  main-  j 
tained  at  their  posts,  who,  expecting  every  minute 
the  appearance  of  the  enemy,  would,  at  the  least 

noise,  fire  and  run  in.   The  enemy,  however,  whose  i 

spies  were  aroimd  our  encampment  all  night,  did  ' 

not  think  proper  to  attack  us  in  this  position,  and  i 

the  morning  broke  without  disturbance.    The  next  | 

day,  General  Jackson  began  to  think  of  returning  | 

to  th3  Ten  Islands.    Many  reasons  concurred  to  I 

render  such  a  measure  proper.  j 

Jackson  ordered  litters  to  be  formed  for  the  | 
transportation  of  the  sick  and  wounded,  and  other 

necessary  preparations  to  be  made  for  a  return  j 

march.    Every  thing  being  ready,  it  was  com-  I 
menced  at  ten  o'clock  the  next  morning,  and  con- 
tinued  without   interruption   until  nearly  night, 

when  the  army  was  encamped  a  quarter  of  a  mile  I 

on  the  south  side  of  Enotichopco  Creek,  in  the  di-  1 
rection  to  the  ford. 

As  it  was  evident  the  enemy  had  been  in  pursuit  ■ 

during  the  day,  a  breast-work  was  thrown  up,  with  | 

the  utmost  expedition,  and  arrangements  made  to  I 

repel  their  attempts,  should  they  meditate  an  at-  i 

tack,  in  the  course  of  the  night,  or  on  the  succeed-  I 
ing  morning.    From  a  knowledge  that  they  had 

been  hanging  on  his  rear,  during  the  march  of  the  ; 

preceding  day,  the  general  was  led  to  conjecture  i 
that  an  ambuscade  had  been  prepared,  and  that  ati 

attatk  would  be  made  on  him  whilst  crossing  the  ^ 

I 
I 


404 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON 


1 


creek  in  his  front.    Near  the  crossing  place  wa« 
a  deep  ravine,  formed  by  the  projection  of  two 
hills,  overgrown  with  thick  shrubbery  and  brown 
sedge,  which  afforded  every  convenience  for  con- 
cealment. Along  this  route,  the  army,  m  going  out, 
had  passed  ;  Jackson  determined  to  take  a  different 
route  ;  he  secretly  despatched,  early  next  morning,  | 
a  few  pioneers,  to  designate  another  crossing  place 
below.    A  suitable  one  was  discovered,  about  six  I 
hundred  yards  from  the  old  one ;  and  thither  the  ' 
general  now  led  his  army;  having,  previously  to  j 
commencing  the  march,  formed  his  columns,  and  j 
the  front  and  rear  guards,  that  he  might  be  in  an  i 
attitude  for  defence. 

A  beautiful  elope  of  open  woodland  led  down  | 
to  the  newly  discovered  ford,  where,  except  im-  j 
mediately  on  the  margin  of  the  creek,  which  was  ' 
covered  with  a  few  reeds,  there  was  nothing  to  ob- 
struct the  view.    The  front  guards,  and  part  of 
the  columns,  had  passed ;  the  wounded  were  also 
over,  and  the  artillery  just  entering  the  creek, 
when  an  alarm-gun  was  heard  in  the  rear.    The  i 
Indians,  unexpectedly  finding  the  route  was  chang-  i 
■ed,  quitted  the  defile,  where  they  had  expected  to  j 
commence  the  assault,  and  advanced  upon  a  com- 
pany, under  the  command  of  Captain  Russell,  which  | 
marched  in  the  rear.    Though  assailed  by  supe-  j 
rior  numbers,  it  returned  the  fire,  and  gradually  , 
retired,  until  it  reached  the  rear  guard,  who,  ac-  j 
cording  to  express  instructions  given,  were,  in  the  , 
-event  of  an  attack,  to  face  about,  and  act  as  tlje 
advance ;  whilst  the  right  and  lefl  columns  should  | 
be  turned  on  their  pivots,  so  as  completely  to  loop 
the  enemy,  and  render  his  destruction  sure.    The  ' 
fight  column  of  the  rear  guard  was  conunaiided  by  ' 


I 
I 

i 


MFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON.  lOt 

Colonel  Perkins,  the  left  by  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Stump,  and  the  centre  colunan  by  Colonel  Carroll. 
Jackson  was  just  passing  the  stream  when  the  firing 
and  yelling  commenced.  Having  instructed  his 
aid-de-camp  to  form  a  line  for  the  protection  of  the 
wounded,  who  were  but  a  short  distance  in  ad 
Vance,  and  afterwards  to  turn  the  left  column,  he 
himself  proceeded  to  the  right,  for  a  similar  pur- 
pose. What  was  his  astonishment,  when,  resting 
in  the  hope  of  certain  victory,  he  beheld  the  right 
and  left  columns  of  the  rear  guard,  after  a  feeble 
resistance,  precipitately  give  way,  bringing  with 
them  confusion  and  dismay,  and  entirely  obstruct- 
ing the  passage,  over  which  the  principal  strength 
of  the  army  was  to  be  re-crossed !  This  shameful 
flight  was  weU  nigh  being  attended  with  the  most 
fatal  consequences  ;  which  were  alone  averted  by 
the  determined  bravery  of  a  few.  Nearly  the 
whole  of  the  centre  column  had  followed  the  ex- 
ample of  the  other  two,  and  precipitated  themselves 
into  the  creek  ;  not  more  than  twenty  remained  to 
oppose  the  violence  of  the  first  assault.  The  ar- 
tillery company,  commanded  by  Lieutenant  Ami- 
strong,  composed  of  young  men  of  the  first  families, 
who  had  volunteered  their  services  at  the  com- 
mencement of  tlie  campaign,  formed  with  their 
muskets  before  the  piece  of  ordnance  they  had,  and 
hastily  dragged  it  from  the  creek  to  an  eminence, 
from  whicli  they  could  play  to  advantage.  Here 
an  obstinate  conflict  ensued;  the  enemy  endeav- 
ouring to  charge  and  take  it,  whi'st  this  company 
formed  with  their  muskets,  and  resolutely  defended 
These  young  men,  the  few  who  remained  with 
Colonel  CarroU,  and  the  gallant  Captain  Quarles- 
who  fell  at  their  bead,  with  Russell's  spies,  not  eic« 


1j06  life  of  genehal  jackson.  j 

ceeding  in  the  whole  one  hundred,  maintained,  with 
the  utmost  firmness,  a  contest,  for  many  minutes  V 
against  a  force  five  times  greater  than  their  own,  ■* 
and  checked  the  advance  of  the  foe.    The  brave  ' 
Lieutenant  Armstrong  fell  at  the  side  of  his  piece  ' 
by  a  wound  in  the  groin,  and  exclaimed,  as  ht  , 
lay,  "  Some  of  you  must  perish  ;  but  dou't  lose  the  ] 
gun."   By  his  side  fell,  mortally  wounded,  his  as- 
sociate and  friend,  Bird  Evans,  and  the  gallant  | 
Captain  Hamilton  ;  who,  having  been  abandoned  by  | 
his  men,  at  Fort  Strother,  with  his  two  brothers  and  j 
his  aged  father,  had  attached  himself  to  the  artillery 
company,  as  a  private,  and,  in  that  capacity,  showed  j 
how  well  be  deserved  to  command  by  the  fidelity 
with  which  he  obeyed.    Perilous  as  the  hour  was, 
this  little  heroic  band  evinced  themselves  cool  and  t 
collected  as  they  were  brave  in  battle.    In  the 
confusion  of  the  moment,  the  rammer  and  pricker 
of  the  cannon  could  not  be  disengaged  from  the  | 
carriage  ;  in  this  situation,  and  at  such  a  time,  the  I 
mviention  of  most  young  soldiers  might  have  failed  .  ' 
but,  nothing  fearing.  Craven  Jackson  and  Constan 
tine  Perkins  drove  home  the  cartridges  with  e  ' 
musket,  and  with  the  ramrod  prepared  them  for  , 
the  match.    In  the  mean  time,  while  the  conflict  | 
was  thus  unequally  sustained,  General  Jackson  and  j 
his  staff  had  been  enabled,  by  great  exertions,  to 
restore  something  like  order,  from  confusion.    The  I 
columns  were  again  formed,  and  put  in  motion ; 
and  small  detachments  had  been  sent  across  the  ; 
creek  to  support  the  little  band  that  there  main  ■  " 
tained  their  ground.    The  enemy,  perceiving  a  ' 
Btrong  force  advancing,  and  being  warmly  assailed  ; 
on  their  left  flank  by  Captain  Gordon,  at  the  head  j 
of  his  company  of  spies,  were  stricken  with  alam,  , 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON.  107 


nnd  fled  away,  leaving  behind  their  blankets,  and 
whatever  was  likely  to  retard  their  flight  De- 
tachments were  ordered  on  the  pursuit,  who,  in  a 
chase  of  two  miles,  destroyed  many,  and  wholly 
dispersed  them. 

in  despite  of  the  active  exertions  made  by  Gene- 
ral Jackson  to  restore  order,  they  were,  for  some 
dme,  unavaLing.  In  addition  to  the  assistance  re- 
ceived from  his  stafiF,  he  derived  much  from  the  aid 
■)f  General  Coffee.  That  officer,  in  consequence 
»f  the  wound  which  he  had  received  at  Emuckfaw, 
rtad,  the  day  before,  been  carried  in  a  litter.  From 
Jie  apprehensions  indulged,  that  an  attack  would- 
probably  he  made  upon  them  that  morning,  he  had 
proceeded  from  the  encampment  on  horseback,  and 
aided-  during  the  action,  with  his  usual  deliberate 
firmness.  Indeed,  all  the  officers  of  his  brigade 
rendered  manifest,  now,  the  value  of  experience. 
This  was  not  a  moment  for  rules  of  fancied  eti- 
quette. The  very  men,  who,  a  little  time  before,- 
would  have  disdained  advice,  and  spurned  an  ordei 
^rom  any  but  their  own  commanders,  did  not  scru- 
ple, amidst  the  peril  that  surrounded  them,  to  be 
regulated  by  those  who  seemed  to  be  so  much  bet- 
(er  qualified  for  extricating  them  from  their  present' 
danger.  The  hospital  surgeon,  Dr.  Shelby,  ap- 
peared in  the  fight,  and  rendered  important  military 
services.  The  adjutant-general,  Sitler,  hastened 
•cross  the  creek  in  the  early  part  of  the  action, 
•.0  the  artillery  company,  for  which  he  felt  all  the 
tsprit  de  corps,  having  been  once  attached  to  it; 
dud  there  remained,  supporting  them  in  their  duties^ 
and  participating  in  their  dangers.  Captain  Gor- 
don, too,  contributed  greatly  to  dispel  the  peril  of 
the  moment,  by  his  active  sally  on  the  left  flank  of 


LIFE    OF   GEIVERAL  JACKSON. 


the  savages.   Of  the  general  himself,  it  is  scnicely  ; 
necessary  to  remark,  that,  but  for  him,  every  thing  ' 
must  have  gone  to  ruin.    On  him  all  hopes  were 
rested.    In  that  moment  of  confusion,  he  was  the  | 
rallying  point,  even  for  the  spirits  of  the  brave. 
Firm  and  energetic,  and,  at  the  same  time,  perfect-  ^ 
ly  self-possessed,  his  example  and  authority  alike  i 
contributed  to  arrest  the  flying,  and  give  confidence 
to  those  who  maintained  their  ground.  Cov/arda 
forgot  their  panic,  and  fronted  danger,  when  they  j 
heard  his  voice  and  beheld  his  manner ;  and  tiie  ■ 
brave  would  have  formed  round  his  body  a  ram-  | 
part  with  their  own.    In  the  midst  of  showers  of 
halls,  of  which  he  seemed  unmindful,  he  was  seen 
performing  the  duties  of  the  subordinate  officers, 
rallying  the  alarmed,  halting  them  in  their  flight,  , 
forming  his  columns,  and  inspiriting  them  by  his  ! 
example.    An  army  suddenly  dismayed,  and  thrown  ! 
into  confusion,  was  thus  happily  rescued  from  a  de-  i 
structioa  which  lately  appeared  inevitable.    Our  ! 
total  loss,  in  the  several  engagements,  on  the  22d,  ■ 
and  this  day,  was  only  twenty  killed,  and  seventy- 
five  wounded,  some  of  whom,  however,  afterwards  i 
died.    The  loss  of  the  enemy  cannot  be  accurately  I 
Btated.    The  bodies  of  one  hundred  and  eighty-  I 
nine  of  their  warriors  were  found  ;  this,  however,  | 
may  be  considered  as  greatly  below  the  real  num-  ! 
ber ;  nor  can  their  wounded  be  even  conjectured.  . 
The  greatest  slaughter  was  in  the  pursuit.    Scat-  ; 
tgiei  through  the  heights  and  hollows,  many  of  tlie  ; 
vounded  escaped,  and  many  of  the  killed  were  not  , 
^certained.    It  is  certain,  however,  as  was  after- 
wards disclosed  by  prisoners,  that  considerably  ! 
more  than  two  hundred  of  those  who,  on  this  oc- 
(^•Kion.  went  out  to  battle,  never  returned  ;  but  | 


J 


LIFE    OF   GE:<EKAL   JACKBOfl.  109 

those  who  did  return,  unwilling  it  should  be  known 
that  so  many  were  killed,  feeling  it  might  dispirit 
the  nation,  endeavoured  to  have  it  believed,  and  so 
represented  it,  that  they  had  proceeded  on  some 
distant  expedition,  and  would  be  for  some  time  ab- 
sent 

The  army  encamped,  on  the  night  of  the  26th, 
within  three  miles  of  Fort  Strother.  Thus  termi- 
nated an  expedition  replete  with  peril,  but  attended 
with  effects  highly  beneficial.  Fort  Armstrong  was 
•elieved  ;  General  Floyd  enabled  to  gain  a  victory 
it  Autossee,  where  he  would  most  probably  have 
met  defeat ;  a  considerable  portion  of  the  enemy's 
oest  forces  had  been  destroyed  ;  and  an  end  put 
to  the  hof)es  they  had  founded  on  previous  delays. 
Discontent  had  been  kept  from  the  ranks  ;  the 
troops  had  been  beneficially  employed ;  and  inac 
tivity,  the  bame  of  every  army,  had  been  avoided. 
10 


110  LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON. 


I 


CHAPTER  V.  I 

Tht  volwUeers  are  discliarged. — New  troops  amve — Exeat 
lion  of  a  soldier,  and  the  effect  produced. —  Want  of  supplies. —  i 
Mutiny  with  the  East  Tennessee  brigade. — General  Jackson  \ 
vuirches  against  tite  Indians. — Battle  of  Tohopeka. — Returns  la  ] 
Fort  Wuliams. — Exvedilion  to  Hoithlewalee ;  its  failure,  and 
the  causes. —  Forms  a  junction  with  the  Georgia  troops,  and  pro-  I 
ceedstothe  Hickory  Ground. — Indians  sue  for  peace. —  Weailver-  \ 
ford  surrenders  himself. — Arrival  of  General  Piuckney  at  | 
head-quarters. —  Tennessee  troops  are  oi  dered  to  he  nuuxheji 
home,  and  discharged  from  service.  i 

The  troops  having  reached  the  post  whence  j 
they  had  set  out,  the  general  determined  to  dig-  i 
charge  them.     The  information  from  Tennessee 
was,  that  there  would  soon  be  in  the  field  a  consid- 
erable force,  enlisted  for  a  period  sufficient  to  effecc 
a  termination  of  the  Indian  war.    He  was  desirous 
of  having  every  thing  in  readiness  by  the  time  of 
their  arrival,  that  they  might  be  carried  without 
delay  into  active  service.    Detaining  his  late  vol-  j 
unteers,  therefore,  a  short  time,  to  complete  boats 
for  the  transportation  of  his  camp  equipage  and  ' 
provisions  down  the  Coosa,  he  directed  them  to  de 
marched  home,  and  there  to  be  honourably  dis- 
missed.   The  further  service  of  his  artillery  com- 
pany vras  also  dispensed  with.    His  parting  inter- 
view with  them  was  interesting  and  affecting. 

A  letter  from  Jackson  to  Governor  Blount,  added  ' 
to  his  own  sense  of  the  importance  of  the  crisis,  ' 
had  induced  him  to  issue  an  order  on  the  3d,  direct-  i 
ing  twenty-five  hundred  of  the  militia  of  the  second  I 
division  to  be  detached,  organized,  and  equipped, 
in  conformity  to  an  act  of  congress  of  the  6th  of 


UFE  OF  GENEllAL  JACKSON. 


Ill 


April,  1812.  These  were  to  perform  a  tour  of 
three  months,  to  be  computed  from  the  time  of 
rendezvous,  appointed  to  be  on  the  28th  instant. 
He  had  also  required  General  Cocke  to  bring  into 
the  field,  under  the  requisition  of  the  secretary  of 
war,  the  quota  he  had  been  instructed  to  raise. 
This  officer,  who  had  hitherto  created  so  many 
obstacles,  stEl  appeared  to  desire  nothing  moie 
ardently  than  a  failure  of  the  campaign.  Although 
many  difficulties  had  been  feigned  in  the  execution 
of  the  order  directed  to  him,  he  was  enabled  to 
muster  into  service,  from  his  division,  about  two 
thousand  men.  These,  however,  as  well  as  those 
called  out  from  West  Teimessee.  were  but  indif- 
ferently armed. 

The  thirty-ninth  regiment,  under  Colonel  Wil- 
liams, had  also  received  orders  to  proceed  to  Jack- 
eon's  head-quarters,  and  act  under  his  command  in 
the  prosecution  of  the  war.  It  arrived  on  the  5th 
or  6th  of  the  month,  about  six  hundred  strong 
Most  of  the  men  were  badly  armed ;  this  evil, 
however  was  shortly  afterwards  remedied. 

The  quarter-masters  and  contractors  were  already 
actively  engaged,  and  endeavouring  to  procure  provi- 
sions and  the  transportations  for  the  army.  The  fail- 
ures, in  regard  to  former  enterprises,  are  to  be  ascrib- 
ed to  these  two  departments  ;  to  the  constant  endeav- 
our of  the  contractors  to  procure  provisions  at  a  re- 
duced price,  in  order  to  enhance  their  profits  ;  and  to 
fears  entertained,  lest,  if  they  should  lay  in  any  large 
supply,  it  might  spoil  or  waste  on  their  hands.  The 
inconveniences  in  tlie  quarter-master's  department, 
were,  indeed,  leas  chargeable  to  the  incumbents 
than  to  the  causes  which  they  could  not  control  ; 
for,  to  the  extreme  ruggedness  of  the  way  over 


112  LIFE  OF  GENERAL    JAvKSON.  j 

which  wagons  had  to  pass,  was  to  be  added  tht  ', 

real  difficulty  of  obtaining  a  sufficient  number  on  j 

the  frontiers.  ^ 

About  the  middle  of  the  month,  Jackson  ordered  ; 
the  troops  to  advance,  and  form  a  union  at  head-  ' 
quarters,  then  at  Fort  Strother.    Greatly  to  his 
surprise,  he  soon  after  learned  that  the  contractor  ; 
from  East  Tennessee  had  again  failed  to  comply  j 
with  his  engagement,  notwithstanding  the  ample  | 
means  which  he  possessed,  and  the  full  time  allowed  | 
him  for  that  purpose.    The  troops,  however,  agree- 
ably to  the  order  received,  proceeded  on  their  , 
march.    Those  from  the  second  division,  under  j 
Brigadier-General  Johnston,  arrived  on  the  14th;  , 
which,  added  to  the  force  under  General  Doherty, 
from  East  Tennessee,  constituted  about  five  thou-  ■ 
sand  effectives.    Composed,  as  this  army  was,  of  i 
troops  entirely  raw,  it  was  not  to  be  expected  that 
any  thing  short  of  the  greatest  firmness  in  its  ] 
officers  could  restrain  that  course  of  conduct  and  , 
disorder,  which  had  hitherto  so  unhappily  prevailed.  ] 

The  execution  of  a  private,  (John  Woods,)  who  \ 
had  been  sentenced  by  a  court-martial,  on  a  charge 

of  mutiny,  produced,  at  tliis  time,  great  excitement-  ^ 

and  the  most  salutary  effects.    Tliat   mutinousi  ^ 

spirit,  which  had  so  frequently  broken  into  the  ^ 

camp,  and  for  a  while  suspended  all  active  opera-  ^ 

tions,  remained  to  be  checked.    A  fit  occasion  wa»  ^ 

now  at  hand  to  evince,  that  although  militia,  when  ^ 

at  their  fire-sides  at  home,  might  boast  an  exemp-  ^ 

tion  from  control,  yet  in  the  field  those  high  no-  ^ 

tions  were  to  be  abandoned,  and  subordination  ob-  ^ 

served.  Painful  as  it  was  to  the  feelings  of  the  ^ 
general,  he  viewed  it  as  a  sacrifice  essential  to  the 

preservation  of  good  order,  and  left  the  sentence  of  ^ 


i 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON.  113 

the  court  to  be  inflicted.  The  execution  was  pro- 
ductive of  the  happiest  effects ;  order  was  pro- 
duced, and  that  opinion  which  had  so  long-  prevailed, 
that  a  militia-man  was  privileged,  and  for  no  offence 
.'iable  to  suffer  death,  was,  from  that  moment, 
abandoned,  and  a  stricter  obedience  than  had  been 
practised  afterwards  characterized  the  army. 

Nothing  was  wanting  now  to  put  the  troops  in 
motion,  and  actively  to  prosecute  tlie  war,  but  the 
arrival  of  necessary  supplies.    Remonstrance,  en- 
treaty, and  threats,  had  long  since  been  used  and 
exhausted.    Every  mean  had  been  resorted  to,  to 
impress  on  the  minds  of  the  contractors  the  ne- 
cessity ol  urging  forward  in  faithful  discharge  of 
their  duty ;  but  the  same  indifference  and  neglect 
were  still  persisted  in.    To  ward  off  the  effects 
of  such  great  evils — evils  which  he  foresaw  must 
again  eventuate  in  discontent  and  revolt — Jack- 
son resolved  rfo  pursue  a  different  course,  and  no 
1    longer  depend  on  persons  who  had  so  frequently 
I    disappointed  him,  and  whose  only  object  was  the 
I    acquirement  of  wealth.   He  accordingly  despatched 
messengers  to  the  nearest  settlements,  with  direc- 
i    tions  to  purchase  provisions,  at  whatever  prjce  they 
could  be  procured.    This  course,  to  these  incum- 
bents on  the  nation,  afforded  an  argument  infinitely 
stronger  than  any  to  which  he  had  before  resorted. 
1    Unexpectedly  assailed  in  a  way  they  had  not  pre- 
viously thought  of,  by  being  held  and  made  liable 
'   for  the  amount  of  the  purchases,  which  by  their 
neglect  was  rendered  necessary,  they  exerted 
themselves  in  discharge  of  a  duty  they  had  hith- 
erto too  shamefiilly  neglected.    Every  expedient 
had  been  practised  to  urge  them  to  a  compliance  with 
the  obligations  they  were  under  to  their  govern 
10* 

I 


114  LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON.  { 

ment ;  iintil  the  present,  none  had  proved  e£fectuaL  I 
In  one  of  his  letters,  about  this  time,  the  general  ! 
remarks, — "  I  have  no  doubt  but  a  combination  has 
been  formed  to  defeat  the  objects  of  the  campaign , 
but  the  contractor  ought  to  have  recollected,  that 
he  had  disappointed  and  starved  my  army  once ;  I 
and  now,  in  return,  it  shall  be  amply  provided  for 
at  his  expense.    At  this  point  he  was  to  have  de- 
livered the  rations — and,  whatever  they  may  cost,  at 
this  place  he  will  be  required  to  pay :  any  price 
that  will  ensure  their  delivery,  I  have  directed  to 
be  given."    The  supplying  an  army  by  contractors, 
he  had  often  objected  to  as  highly  exceptionable 
and  dangerous.    His  monitor,  on  this  subject,  was 
his  own  experience.     Disappointment,  mutiny,  and 
abandonment  by  his  troops,  when  in  the  full  career 
of  success,  and  an  unnecessarily  protracted  cam-  j 
paign,  were  among  the  evils  already  experienced.  • 
and  which  he  desired,  if  possible,  mightjae  in  future  I 
avoided.    The  difficulties,  the  perplexities,  he  had 
met,  and  the  constant  dissatisfaction  which  had 
rendered  his  troops  inefficient,  were  whoUy  to  be 
attributed  to  those,  who,  in  disregard  of  the  public 
good,  had  looked  alone  to  their  own  immediate  ! 
benefit.    It  was  high  time  that  the  feelings  and  J 
interest  of  such  men  should  be  disregarded,  and  | 
a  sense  of  duty  enforced,  by  that  sort  of  appeal  ! 
which  sordid  minds  best  can  understand — an  ap-  | 
peal  to  profit  and  the  purse.  ; 

Under  these  and  other  circumstances,  which  j 
seemed  to  involve  the  most  serious  consequences,  i 
the  general  had  but  little  time  for  either  repose  or  i 
quietness.  Every  thing  was  moving  in  opposition  j 
to  his  wishes.  The  East  Tennessee  brigade,  under 
the  command  of  Dohertyt  having  been  inatructed 


i 


LIFE  Of  GENERAL  JACKSON  110 

to  halt,  until  adequate  supplies  should  be  received 
at  head-quarters,  had  already  manifested  many 
symptoms  of  revolt,  and  was  with  difficulty  re- 
strained from  abandoning  the  field,  and  returning 
immediately  home.  Added  to  their  own  discon- 
tents, pains  had  been  taken  by  a  personage  high  in 
authority  to  scatter  dissension,  and  to  persuade 
them  that  they  had  been  improperly  called  out,  and 
without  sufficient  authority ;  that  the  draft  was 
illegal,  and  that  they  were  under  no  necessity  of 
remaining.  On  the  morning  that  General  Doherty 
was  about  to  proceed  to  head-quarters,  he  was 
astonished  to  hear  the  drums  beating  up  for  volun 
teers  to  abandon  his  camp  and  return  home.  Not^ 
withstanding  all  his  efforts  to  prevent  this  injurious 
measure,  one  hundred  and  eighty  deserted.  His 
surprise  was  still  greater,  on  receiving  information 
in  which  he  confided,  that  instructions  by  Major- 
General  Cocke  had  been  given,  that,  in  the  event 
any  number  of  the  troops  should  be  marched  back 
he  would  take  upon  himself  to  discheirge  them 
from  all  responsibility  on  their  return  to  Knox^  iUe 
The  general  had  previously  appeared  at  the  camp 
of  Doherty,  and,  by  different  means,  attempted  to 
excite  mutiny  and  disaffection  among  the  troops. 
As  a  reason  for  being  unwilling  to  assume  the  com- 
mand, and  go  with  them  to  the  field,  he  stated,  that 
they  would  be  placed  in  a  situation  which  he  dis- 
liked to  think  of,  and  one  which  his  feelings  would 
not  enable  him  to  witness ;  tJiat  they  were  about  to 
be  placed  under  the  command  of  General  Jackson, 
who  would  impose  on  them  the  severest  trials,  and 
Inhere  they  would  have  to  encounter  every  imagma- 
ble  privation  and  suffering.  He  represented,  that 
at  head-quarters  there  was  not  a  sufficiency  of  pro* 


116  LIFE   OF   GENERAL  JACKSOff. 


visions  on  hand  to  last  five  days ;  nor  was  there  a 
probability  that  there  would  happen  any  change  of 
circumstances  for  the  better ;  that,  should  they 
once  be  placed  in  the  power  of  Jackson,  such  was 
his  nature  and  disposition,  that,  with  the  regular 
force  under  his  command,  he  would  compel  them  to 
serve  whatever  length  of  time  he  pleased.  Doherty, 
who  was  a  brigadier  in  the  first  division,  was  at  a  loss 
to  know  how  he  should  proceed  with  his  own  major- 
general,  who,  having  thus  obtruded  himself  into  his 
camp,  was  endeavouring  to  excite  mutiny  and  re- 
volt :  he  accordingly  despatched  an  express  to 
head-quarters  to  give  information  to  General  Jack- 
son of  what  was  passing  in  his  camp.  The  mes- 
senger arrived,  and,  in  return,  received  an  order  to 
Doherty,  commanding  him,  peremptorily,  to  seize, 
and  send  under  guard  to  Fort  Strother,  every 
officer,  without  regard  to  his  rank,  who  should  be 
found,  in  any  manner,  attempting  to  incite  his  army 
to  mutiny.  General  Cocke,  apprehending  what 
was  going  on,  or  obtaining  intelligence,  retired  be- 
fore the  order  arrived,  and  thus  escaped  the  pun- 
ishment due  to  so  aggravated  an  offence. 

About  this  time.  Colonel  Dyer  was  despatched 
with  six  hundred  men,  with  orders  to  proceed  to  the 
head  of  the  Black  Warrior,  and  ascertain  if  anj 
force  of  the  Indians  was  imbodied  in  that  quartei; 
and  disperse  them.  This  detachment,  having  pro 
ceeded  eight  days  through  the  heights  along  th« 
Cahawba,  had  fallen  in  with  a  trail  the  enemy  ha^ 
passed,  stretching  eastwardly,  and  followed  it  fo. 
some  distance.  Apprehending  that  the  army  might 
be  on  the  eve  of  departing  from  Fort  Strother,  and 
being  unable  to  obtain  any  certain  information  of 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON.  117 


the  savages,  he  desisted  from  the  pursuit,  and 
returaed  to  camp. 

That  there  might  be  no  troops  in  the  field  in  a 
situation  not  to  be  serviceable,  and  as  supplies  were 
an  important  consideration,  orders  were  given  the 
brigadiers  to  dismiss  from  the  ranks  every  invalid, 
and  all  who  were  not  well  armed. 

General  Jackson,  at  length,  by  constant  and  un- 
remitted exertions,  obtained  such  supplies  as  he 
believed  would  be  necessary  to  enable  him  to 
proceed.  On  the  14th  he  commenced  his  march, 
and,  crossing  the  river,  arrived  on  the  21st  at  the 
mouth  of  Cedar  Creek,  which  had  been  previously 
selected  for  the  establishment  of  a  fort.*  At  this 
place  it  became  necessary  to  delay  a  day  or  two, 
and  await  the  coming  of  the  provision  boats,  which 
were  descending  the  Coosa. 

On  the  22d  of  January,  the  day  of  the  hattle  of 
Emuckfaw,  General  Coffee,  as  has  been  already 
«tated,  had  been  detached  to  destroy  the  Indian 
encampment  on  the  Tallapoosa:  having  recon- 
noitred their  position,  and  believing  them  too 
strongly  posted  to  be  advantageously  assailed  by 
the  force  which  he  then  commanded,  he  had  re- 
tired without  making  the  attempt  The  position 
they  had  chosen  was  at  a  bend  of  the  Tallapoosa, 
called  by  the  Indians  Tohopeka,  which,  interpreted 
into  our  language,  means  Horse-Shoe,  not  far  from 
New  Youcka,  and  near  the  Oakfiisky  villages. 
Fortified  by  nature  and  the  skill  of  the  savages, 
no  other  conjecture  was  entertained,  than  that  at  this 
place  was  intended  a  defence  of  the  most  deter- 
mined kind.  Learning  that  the  Indians  were  still 
imbodied  here,  Jackson  resolved  to  make  a  descent 


•  Fott  WiUioms. 


118  LIFK    OF   UEIVEBAL  JACKSOK. 


on  it,  and  destroy  the  confederacy ;  thence,  return-  | 
ing  to  Fort  Williams  for  provisions,  to  urge  forward  I 
to  the  Hickory  Ground,  where  he  hoped  he  should  j 
be  able  finally  to  terminate  the  war. 

On  the  24th,  leaving  a  sufficient  force  under 
Brigadier-General  Johnston  for  the  protection  of 
the  post,  with  eight  days'  provisions,  he  left  Fori  , 
Williams  for  the  Tallapoosa,  by  the  way  of  Emuck-  | 
faw.     The  whole  force  now  with  him  amounted  | 
to  less  than  three  thousand  effective  men ;  being  j 
considerably  reduced  by  the  necessity  of  leaving  [ 
behind  him  detachments  for  garrisons  at  the  differ-  ' 
ent  forts.    At  ten  o'clock  on  ,the  morning  of  the  I 
27th,  after  a  march  of  fifty-two  miles,  he  reached  | 
the  village  Tohopeka.    The  enemy,  having  gained  I 
intelligence  of  his  approach,  had  collected  in  con-  j 
siderable  numbers,  with  a  view  to  give  him  battle.  i 
The  warriors  from  the  adjacent  towns,  Oakfusky,  j 
Hillabee,  Eufalee,  and  New  Youcka,  amounting  to  | 
a  thousand  or  twelve  hundred,  were  here  collected,  i 
and  waiting  his  approach.   They  could  have  select-  | 
ed  no  place  better  calculated  for  defence  ;  for,  in-  | 
dependent  of  tlie  advantages  bestowed  on  it  by  | 
nature,  their  own  exertions  had  greatly  contributed  | 
to  its  strength.    Surrounded  almost  entirely  by  the  | 
river,  it  was  accessible  only  by  a  narrow  neck  of 
land,  of  three  hundred  and  fifty  yards  width,  which 
they  had  taken  much  pains  to  secure,  by  placing 
large  timbers  and  trunks  of  trees  horizontally  on 
each  other,  leaving  but  a  single  place  of  entrance. 
From  a  double  row  of  port-holes  formed  in  it,  they  ! 
were  enabled  to  give  complete  direction  to  their  | 
fire,  whilst  they  lay  in  perfect  security  behind. 

General  Coffee,  at  the  head  of  the  mounted  in- 
fantry and  friendly  Indians,  had  been  despatched 


-J 


LIFE  OP  GENERAL  JACKSON.  119 

early  in  the  morning  from  camp,  with  orders  to 
gain  the  southern  bank  of  the  river,  encircle  the 
bend,  and  make  some  feint,  or  manoeuvring,  to 
divert  the  enemy  from  the  point  vi^here  the  attack 
was  intended  principally  to  be  waged.  He  was 
particularly  instructed  so  to  arrange  the  force  under 
Jiis  command,  that  tlie  savages  might  not  escape  by 
passing  to  the  opposite  side  in  their  canoes,  with 
which,  it  was  represented,  the  whole  shore  was 
lined.  Jackson,  with  the  rest  of  the  army,  pro- 
eeeded  to  take  a  position  in  front  of  the  breast- 
work. Having  planted  his  cannon  on  an  eminence, 
about  two  hundred  yards  from  the  front  of  the 
enemy's  line,  with  a  view  to  break  down  his 
defence,  a  brisk  fire  commenced.  The  musketry 
and  rifles,  which  occupied  a  nearer  position,  were 
used  as  the  Indians  occasionally  showed  themselves 
from  behind  their  works.  The  artiUery  was  well 
served  by  Major  Bradford,  and  the  tire  kept  up  for 
some  minutes  without  making  any  impression ;  time, 
however,  was  gained  for  complete  readiness.  The 
signals  having  now  announced  that  General  Coffee 
had  reached  in  safety  his  point  of  destination,  oi 
the  opposite  side  of  the  river,  had  formed  his  line, 
and  was  ready  to  act,  the  order  was  given  to 
charge.  "  Never  were  troops  more  eager  to  be 
led  on  than  were  Hoth  regulars  and  militia.  They 
had  been  waiting  witn  impatience  for  the  order, 
and  hailed  it  with  acclamations.  The  spirit  that 
animated  them  was  a  sure  augury  of  the  success 
chat  was  to  follow."  Between  them  there  was  no 
difference  ;  both  advanced  with  the  Intrepidity  and 
firmness  of  veteran  soldiers.  The  thirty-ninth 
regiment,  led  on  by  their  commander,  Colonel  Wil- 
liams, and  the  brave  but  ill-fated  Major  Montgomery 


1^0  LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON. 


and  the  militia  under  the  command  of  Colone. 
Bunch,  moved  forward  amidst  a  destructive  fire 
tliat  continually  poured  upon  them,  and  were  pres- 
ently at  the  rampart.  Here  an  obstinate  and 
destructive  conflict  ensued,  each  contending  for 
the  port-holes,  on  different  sides.  Many  of  the 
enemy's  balls  were  welded  between  the  muskets 
and  bayonets  of  our  soldiers.  At  this  moment. 
Major  Montgomery,  leaping  on  the  wall,  called  to 
his  men  to  aiount  and  follow  him ;  he  had  scarcely 
spoken,  when,  shot  through  the  head,  he  fell  lifeless 
to  the  ground.  Our  troops  eagerly  followed  the 
example  he  had  set,  and  scaled  their  ramparts. 
Finding  it  no  longer  tenable,  the  savages  aban- 
doned their  position,  and,  retiring  from  their  works, 
concealed  themselves  amidst  the  brush  and  timber 
that  lay  thickly  scattered  over  the  peninsula, 
whence  they  kept  up  a  galling  fire,  until  they  were 
again  forced  back.  Driven  to  despair,  not  knowing 
whither  to  flee,  and  resolving  not  to  surrender, 
they  saw  no  other  alternative,  than  an  effort  to 
effect  their  escape,  by  passing  in  their  canoes  to 
the  opposite  bank  of  the  river ;  from  this  they  were, 
however,  prevented,  by  perceiving  that  a  part  of 
the  army  already  lined  the  opposite  shore.  Under 
these  circumstances,  the  remaining  warriors,  who 
yet  survived  the  severity  of  the  conflict,  betaking 
themselves  to  flight,  leaped  uown  the  banks,  and 
concealed  themselves  along  the  cliffs  and  steeps, 
which  were  covered  by  the  trees.  Many  had  betaken 
themselves  to  the  west  angle  of  their  line  of  de- 
fence, where,  under  protection  of  heaps  of  brush, 
a  spirited  fire  was  kept  up  upon  those  of  our  troops 
who  had  gained  their  line,  and  those  who  were 
advancing  on  the  outer  side.    From  these  secreted 


UFB  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON. 


pluces  they  would  fire  and  disappear.    Genera]  ^ 

Jackson,  perceiving  that  further  resistance  must  i 
involve  them  in  utter  destruction,  and  entertaining 
a  desire  that  they  should  yield  a  contest  which  now 

evidently  was  a  hopeless  one,  ordered  the  interpre-  j 

ter  to  advance  with  a  flag,  under  cover  of  eomc  1 

trees  which  stood  in  front,  until  he  should  reach  a  j 
position  sufficiently  near  to  be  heard.    He  did  so, 
and,  having  arrived  within  forty  yards  of  the  spot 

where  the  Indians  were  concealed,  in  an  audible  | 

voice,  and  in  their  own  language,  addressed  them ;  , 

told  them  of  the  folly  of  further  resistance,  and  ; 

that  he  was  commanded  by  General  Jackson  to  say,  I 

that,  if  disposed  to  surrender,  tiiey  should  be  re-  | 

eeived  and  treated  as  prisoners.     They  waited  '. 

patiently  until  he  had  finished,  and  heard  what  he  | 

had  to  say  ; — a  pause  ensued  ;  and,  at  the  moment  | 
when  he  was  expecting  to  receive  an  answer,  and 

to  learn  that  a  surrender  would  be  at  once  made,  a  | 
fire  was  opened  upon  the  flag,  and  the  interpreter 

severely  wounded  in  the  breast.    Finding  they  i 

would  not  yield,  orders  were  given  to  dislodge  them.  I 
To  accomplish  this,  the  artillery  was  5rst  turned 
against  tliem  ;  but,  being  from  its  size  incapable  of 
producing  any  efiect,  a  charge  was  made,  in  which 

several  valuable  lives  were  lost ;  il  however  sue-  j 

ceeded,  and  the  enemy  were  dislodged  from  their  ' 

covert  place  on  the  right  angle  of  their  line  of  j 
defence.    Lighted  torches  were  now  thrown  down 
th«  steeps,  which,  communicating  with  the  brush 

and  trees,  and  setting  them  on  fire,  drove  them  j 

from  their  hiding-places.  Still  did  they  refuse  to  | 
surrender,  and  stiU  maintained  the  conflict  Thus 

the  carnage  continued  until  night  separated  the  j 

combatants,  when  the  few  misguided  savages,  who  , 

11  I 

I 


122  LIFB  OF  UENERAL  JACKSON. 


had  avoided  the  havoc  and  slaughter  of  the  day, 
were  enabled,  through  tJie  darkness  of  the  nigt^ 
to  make  their  escape. 

Whilst  the  attack  was  thus  waged  in  front  of 
the  line,  the  friendly  Indians  in  General  Coffee's 
detachment,  under  the  command  of  Colonel  Mor- 
gan, with  Captain  Russell's  company  of  spies,  were 
effecting  much ;  and,  no  doubt,  to  the  course  pur- 
sued by  them,  on  the  opposite  side,  was  greatly 
owing  the  facility  with  which  the  breast-work  was 
scaled,  and  its  possession  obtained.  The  village 
stood  on  the  margin  of  the  river,  and  on  that  part 
of  the  peninsula  most  remote  from  the  fortification. 
At  the  line  were  all  their  warriors  collected.  Seve- 
ral of  the  Cherokees  and  Russell's  spies  having 
swum  across,  unobserved,  and  procured  their  ca- 
noes, a  considerable  number  passed  over,  entered 
the  town,  and  fired  it.  No  sooner  was  this  dis- 
covered, than  their  attention  was  divided,  and  drawn 
to  the  protection  of  a  point  where  they  had  not  ap- 
prehended an  attack.  Thus  assailed  from  an  un- 
expected quarter — a  force  in  their  rear,  and  another, 
still  stronger,  advancing  on  their  front — the  invading 
army  was  afforded  a  much  easier  and  less  hazardous 
opportunity  of  succeeding  in  the  assault  and  secur- 
ing the  victory. 

This  battle  gave  a  death-blow  to  their  hopes ;  nor 
did  they  venture,  afterwards,  to  make  a  stand. 
From  their  fastness  in  the  woods  they  had  tried 
their  strength,  agreeably  to  their  accustomed  mode 
of  warfare  ;  in  ambuscade,  had  brought  on  the  at- 
tack ;  and,  in  all,  failure  and  disaster  had  been  me'. 
None  of  the  advantages  incident  on  surprise,  and 
for  wliich  the  red  men  of  our  forests  have  been 
always  so  characterized,  had  they  been  able  to  ob. 


LIFE  OP  GENERAL  JACKSON.  123 


tain.  The  continual  defeats  they  had  received 
were,  doubtless,  the  reason  of  their  having  so 
strongly  fortified  this  place,  w^here  they  had  deter- 
mined to  perish  or  to  be  victorious.  Few  escaped 
the  carnage.  Of  the  killed,  many  by  their  friends 
were  thrown  into  the  river,  whilst  the  battle  raged ; 
many,  in  endeavouring  to  pass  it,  were  sunk  by 
the  steady  fire  of  Coffee's  brigade  ;  and  five  hun- 
dred and  fifty-seven  were  lefl  dead  on  the  ground. 
Among  the  number  of  the  slain  were  three  of 
Jieir  prophets.  Decorated  in  a  most  fantastic  man- 
ner— the  plumage  of  various  birds  about  their  heads 
and  shoulders — with  savage  grimaces,  and  horrid 
contortions  of  the  body,  they  danced  and  howled 
their  cantations  to  the  sun.  Their  dependants  al- 
ready believed  a  communion  with  Heaven  sure, 
which,  moved  by  entreaty,  and  their  offered  homage, 
would  aid  them  in  the  conflict,  and  give  a  triumph 
to  their  arms.  Fear  had  no  influence  ;  and  when 
they  beheld  our  army  approaching,  and  already 
scaling  their  line  of  defence,  even  then,  far 
from  being  dispirited,  hope  survived,  and  victory 
was  still  anticipated.  Monohoe,  one  of  the  most 
considerable  of  their  inspired  ones,  and  who  had 
cheered  and  kept  alive  the  broken  spirit  of  the  na- 
tion by  his  pretended  divinations,  fell,  mortally 
wounded,  by  a  cannon  shot  in  the  mouth,  while  ear- 
nestly engaged  in  his  incantations. 

Three  hundred  prisoners  were  taken,  most  of 
whom  were  women  and  children.  That  so  few 
warriors  should  have  sought  and  obtained  safety,  by 
appealing  to  the  clemency  of  the  victors,  to  persons 
acquainted  with  the  mode  of  Indian  warfare,  will 
not  appear  a  matter  of  surprise.  It  seldom  happens 
tliat  they  extend  or  solicit  quarter :  faithless  them- 


1?4 


LIFB  OF  UBNERAL  JACKSON. 


selves,  they  place  no  reliance  on  the  faith  of  others 
and,  when  overcome  in  battle,  seek  no  other  pro- 
tection than  retreat  affords.  Another  cause  for  it. 
may  be  found  in  a  reason  already  given  ;  the  attack,, 
by  a  detachment  of  General  Cocke's  division,  on 
the  Hillabee  clans,  who  were  assailed  and  put  to  the 
sword,  at  a  moment  when,  having  asked  peace  at 
discretion,  they  were  expecting  it  to  be  given. 
This  misfortune  had  alone  been  occasioned  by  a 
want  of  concert  in  the  divisions  of  our  army  ;  but 
It  was  past,  and  with  it  was  gone,  on  the  part  of  the 
savages,  all  confidence  in  our  integrity  and  humani- 
ty ;  and  they  looked  and  trusted  for  safety  now  to 
nothing  but  their  own  bravery.  In  this  contest 
they  maintained  resistance,  fighting  and  firing  from 
their  covert  places,  long  after  the  hope  either  of 
success  or  escape  was  at  an  end,  and  after  the  pro- 
posal had  been  submitted  to  spare  the  further  use- 
less waste  of  blood.  A  few,  who  had  lain  quiet, 
and  concealed  under  the  cliffs,  survived  the  severity 
of  the  conflict,  and  effected  their  retreat  under 
cover  of  the  night. 

Our  loss  was  small,  when  compared  with  that  of 
tne  enemy ;  the  whole  estimate,  including  the 
friendly  and  Cherokee  Indians,  was  but  fifty-five 
killed,  and  one  hundred  and  forty-six  wounded.  Of 
the  former  was  Major  Montgomery,  a  brave  and  en- 
terprising young  officer,  of  the  thirty-ninth  regi- 
ment, and  Lieutenants  Moulton  and  Somerville,  who- 
fell  early  in  the  action. 

The  object  of  the  present  visit  being  answerect 
the  general  concluded  to  return  to  Fort  Williams. 
Having  sunk  his  dead  in  the  river,  to  prevent  their 
being  scalped  by  the  savages,  and  made  the  neces- 
«ary  arrangements  for  carrying  off  his  wounded,  he 


LIFE    OF   U£N'ERAL  JACKSON. 


125 


cominenced  his  return  march  for  the  fort,  and  in  a 
few  days  reached  it  in  safety.* 

Understanding  that  the  enemy  was  imbodied,  in 
considerable  numbers,  at  Hoithlcwalee,  a  town  situ- 
ated not  far  from  the  Hickory  Ground,  he  was  anx- 
ious to  re-commence  his  operations  as  early  as 
possible,  that  the  advantages  he  had  gained,  and 
the  impression  he  had  made,  might  not  be  lost.  The 
forces  under  his  command,  from  sickness,  the  loss 
which  had  been  sustained  in  the  late  battle,  and 
numerous  discharges  given,  had  been  too  much  re- 
duced in  strength,  to  permit  him  to  act  as  efficiently 
as  the  importance  of  the  crisis  required.  It  was 
desirable,  therefore,  to  effect  a  junction  with  the 
southern  army  as  speedily  as  possible,  that,  from  an 
increase  and  concentration  of  his  numbers,  greater 
efficiency  might  be  had.  The  North  Carolina 
troops,  under  the  command  of  General  Graham,  an 
e.xperienced  officer  of  the  revolutionary  war,  and 
those  of  Georgia,  under  Colonel  Milton,  were  as 
certained  to  be  somewhere  south  of  the  Tallapoosa, 
and  could  be  at  no  great  distance.  To  unite  with 
them  was  an  event  greatly  desired.  He  had  re 
ceived  from  General  Pinckney  strong  assurances 
.hat  all  complaints  would  be  at  an  end,  as  soon  as  his 
and  the  southern  division  could  unite.  No  time  was 
to  be  lost  in  effecting  a  purpose  so  essential.  Gene- 
ral Jackson  accordingly  determined  to  leave  his  sick 
and  wounded,  and  the  fort,  to  the  care  and  com- 
mand of  Brigadier  Johnston,  and  to  set  out  again 

*  Sinking  them  in  the  river,  in  preference  to  burying  them, 
was  adopted  from  the  consideration,  that  those  of  our  troops,  who 
lad  previously  fallen,  had  been  raised,  stripped,  and  scalped, 
^lany  of  tlie  Indians  at  Tohopeka  were  found  in  the  clothes  of 
Ibou  wfao  had  been  killed  and  bi  -ied  al  Emuckfa'T. 
11* 


126  LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON 


1 


for  the  Tallapoosa.  On  the  7th,  with  all  his  dispo-  ! 
sable  force,  he  commenced  his  march,  with  the  ! 
double  view  of  effecting  a  union  with  the  army  be-  i 
low,  and  of  attacking  on  his  route  the  enemy's 
force  which  were  collected  at  Hoithlewalee.  His  j 
greatest  difficulty  was  in  conveying  to  Co'.onel  Mil-  j 
ton  intelligence  of  his  intended  operations.  The  , 
friendly  Indiana,  who,  from  their  knowledge  of  the  .  | 
country,  had  been  always  selected  as  expresses,  | 
were  with  difficulty  to  be  prevailed  on  now  for  any  I 
such  undertaking.  Believing  their  nation  to  be  .  ' 
imbodied  in  larger  numbers  than  any  which  had  1 
been  yet  encountered,  and  that,  confiding  in  their  ■  | 
strength,  they  would  be  better  enabled  to  go  forth,  ' 
searching  and  spying  through  the  surrounding  -  | 
country,  they  at  once  concluded  tiiat  any  enterprise  . 
of  this  kind  would  he  attended  with  too  great  peril  ; 
and  danger,  and  the  difficulty  of  eluding  observa-. 
tion  too  much  increased,  for  them  to  adventure.  1 
This  circumstance  prevented  the  arrangement  of  | 
such  measures  as  were  best  cakulated  to  bring  the  ' 
different  divisions  to  act  in  general  concert.  The  . 
necessity,  however,  of  such  co-operation,  was  too  j 
important,  at  this  moment,  not  to  be  effected,  if  it  1 
were  possible.  ! 

Having  at  length  succeeded  in  procuring  confi-  | 
dential  messengers,  Jackson  addressed  Colonel  Mil- 
ton, and  advised  him  of  his  intended  movement,  j 
To  guard  against  any  accident  or  failure  that  might  , 
happen,  different  expresses  were  despatched,  by  • 
different  routes.  He  informed  him,  that,  with  eight  i 
days'  provisions,  and  a  force  of  about  two  thousand  | 
men,  he  should,  on  the  7th,  take  up  the  line  of  marcii, 
und  proceed  directly  for  Hoithlewalee ;  which  he  ex-  I 
pected  certainly  to  reach  and  attack  on  the  11th.  I 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON. 


127 


The  point  of  destination,  owing  to  the  rain,  he 
was  not  able  to  reach  until  the  13th.  This  delay, 
unavoidable,  gave  the  Indians  an  opportunity  of 
fleeing  from  the  threatened  danger.  On  arriving 
at  an  inconsiderable  stream  which  skirted  the  town, 
it  was  so  swollen  as  to  be  rendered  impassable. 
The  savages,  gaining  intelligence  of  an  approach 
that  was  thus  unavoidably  retarded,  were  enabled 
to  effect  an  escape  by  passing  the  river  in  their 
canoes,  and  gaining  the  opposite  shore.  Had  Col- 
onel MUton  fortunately  made  a  different  disposition 
of  the  troops  under  his  command,  and,  by  guarding 
the  southern  bank  of  the  river,  co-operated  with 
fite  Tennessee  division,  their  escape  would  have 
jbeen  prevented,  and  the  whole  force,  collected, 
•would  either  have  been  destroyed  or  made  prison- 
,ers.  Although  Jackson,  in  his  letter  of  the  5th, 
:had  given  intelligence  that  he  would  reach  the 
.enemy  on  the  11th;  and,  when  prevented  by  high 
waters  and  rotten  roads,  had  again  notified  him 
■th&t  he  would  certainly  arrive  and  commence  the 
attack  by  the  morning  of  the  13th,  and  urged  him 
to  guard  the  south  bank  of  the  Tallapoosa,  still 
was  the  request  disregarded,  and  the  savages  per- 
mitted to  escape.  Learning  they  were  abandoning 
their  position,  and  seeking  safety  in  flight,  Jackson 
filed  to  the  right,  and,  overtaking  the  rear  of  the 
fugitives,  succeeded  in  making  twenty-five  prison- 
ers. At  this  time,  nothing  was  beard  of  Colone^ 
Milton  ;  but  on  the  same  day,  having  marched  about 
-five  miles  from  his  encampment  at  Fort  Decatur, 
•and  approached  within  four  of  Hoithlewalee,  he, 
ithe  next  morning,  gave  notice  of  an  intention  to 
^attack  the  village  that  day  ;  at  this  moment  the  in 
iiaSitants  and  warriors  b»d  0  »d  and  the  town  was 


i28  LIFE   OF  GENERAL  JACKSOIT. 


1 


occupied  and  partly  destroyed  by  a  detachment  | 

from  Jackson's  army,  that  had  succeeded  in  passing  ■ 
the  creek. 

The  Georgia  army  being  so  near  at  hand,  was  a  ' 
source  of  some  satisfaction,  although  the  escape  of 
the  enemy  had  rendered  their  presence  of  less  im- 
portance than  it  otherwise  would  have  been.  The 
.stock  of  provisions,  with  which  the  march  had  been  | 
commenced  from  Fort  Williams,  was  now  nearly 
exhausted.    Assurances,  however,  having  been  so  | 
repeatedly  given,  that  abundant  supplies  would  be  I 
had  on  uniting  with  the  southern  army,  all  uneasi-  ] 
less  upon  the  subject  was  at  once  dispelled.    Col  | 
onel  Milton  was  immediately  applied  to,  the  situa-  | 
tion  of  the  army  disclosed,  and  such  aid  as  he  could  1 
«xtend  solicited.    He  returned  an  answer  to  the  j 
general's  demand,  observing,  he  had  sent  provisions 
for  the  friendly  Indians,  and  would,  the  next  day,  ' 
lend  some  for  the  remainder  of  the  troops  ;  but  felt  i 
himself  under  no  obligation  to  furnish  any.  Jack- 
son, satisfied  of  its  being  in  his  power  to  relieve  I 
him,  and  that  this  apparent  unwillingness  did  not,  | 
and  could  not,  proceed  from  any  scarcity  in  his  I 
camp,  assumed  a  higher  ground,  and,  instead  of  ask-  ' 
ing  assistance,  now  demanded  it.    He  stated  that 
his  men  were  destitute  of  supplies,  and  that  he  had  ' 
been  apprized  of  it ;  and  concluded  by  ordering 
not  requesting,  him  to  send  five  thousand  rations 
immediately,  for  present  relief ;  and  for  himself  and  , 
the  forces  under  his  command  to  join  him  at  Hoith-  i 
lewalee  by  ten  o'clock  the  next  day.   «  This  order,"  | 
he  remarked,  "  must  be  obeyed  without  hesitation."  I 
— It  was  obeyed.   The  next  day,  a  junction  having  i 
been  effected,  the  necessary  steps  were  taken  to  | 


i 

LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON.  129  I 

I 

bring  down  the  provisions  deposited  at  Port  Deca- 
tur, and,  for  the  first  time  since  the  commence- 
ment of  the  Creek  war,  inconveniences  for  the  | 
want  of  supplies,  and  an  apprehension  of  suffering,  i 
were  removed. 

Appearances  seemed  now  to  warrant  the  belief, 
that  the  war  would  not  be  of  much  longer  continu- 
ance ;  the  principal  chiefs  of  the  Hickory  Ground  | 
tribes  were  coming  in,  making  professions  of  friend- 
ship, and  giving  assurances  of  their  being  no  longer 
disposed  to  continue  hostilities.    The  general  had  ; 
been  met,  on  his  late  march,  by  a  flag  from  these  ' 
dans,  giving  information  of  their  disposition  to  be 
at  peace.    In  return  they  received  this  answer : — 
that  those  of  the  war  party,  who  were  desirous  of  | 
putting  an  end  to  the  contest,  and  of  becoming  | 
friendly,  should  evince  their  intention  by  retiring  , 
in  the  rear  of  the  army,  and  settling  themselves  to  I 
the  north  of  Fort  Williams ;  tliat  no  other  proof  | 
than  this,  of  their  pacific  dispositions,  would  be  re-  j 
ceived.  Fourteen  chiefs  of  these  tribes  had  arrived, 
to  furnish  stiU  further  evidence  of  their  desire  for 
peace.    They  assured  the  general  that  their  old  ' 
king,  Fous-hatehee,  was  anxious  to  be  permitted  to  ; 
•visit  him  in  person,  and  was  then  on  his  way,  with  j 
his  followers,  to  settle  above  Fort  Williams,  agree-  j 
ably  to  the  information  he  had  received  by  the  flag  ' 
wiiich  hud  lately  returned  to  him.  j 

Detachments  were  scouring  the  country  to  the 
south,  with  orders  to  break  up  any  collection  of  the 
enemy  that  might  be  heard  of  in  convenient  dis- 
tance. The  main  body  v/as  prepared  to  advance  to 
the  junction  of  the  two  rivers,  where,  until  now,  it  , 
.had  been  expected  the  Indians  would  make  a  last  i 


( 


130  LIFE   OP   GENERAL   JACKSON.  ' 

and  desperate  stand.*    Every  thing  was  in  readi- 
ness to  proceed  on  the  march,  when  it  was  an 
nounced  to  the  general,  that  Colonel  Milton's  brig- 
ade, which  had  lately  united  with  him,  was  not  in 
a  situation  to  move.    During  the  previous  night  I 
some  of  his  wagon  horses  having  strayed  off,  per-  ' 
sons  had  been  sent  in  pursuit,  and  were  expected  [ 
shortly  to  return  with  them  ;  when,  it  was  reported, 
he  would  be  ready  to  take  up  the  line  of  march. 
To  Jackson,  this  was  a  reason  for  delaying  the  ope- 
rations of  an  army,  which  as  yet  he  had  never 
learned,  and  by  which  he  had  never  been  influenced. 
He  had,  indeed,  been  frequently  made  to  halt,  i 
though  from  very  different  causes  ;  from  murmurs,  ' 
discootents  and  starvation  in  his  camp.    He  replied 
to  the  colonel's  want  of  preparation,  by  telling  him, 
that,  in  the  progress  of  his  own  diflBculties,  he  had  , 
discovered  a  very  excellent  mode  of  expediting 
wagons,  even  without  horses  ;  and  that,  if  he  would  | 
detail  him  twenty  men  from  his  brigade,  for  every  j 
wagon  deficient  in  horses,  he  would  guaranty  their  j 
safe  arrival  at  their  place  of  destination.    Rather  | 
than  subject  his  men  to  such  drudgery,  he  preferred  ! 
to  dismount  some  of  his  dragoons,  and  thus  avoided 
the  necessity  of  halting  the  army  until  his  lost  ' 
teams  should  arrive.  j 
The  army  continued  its  march  without  gaining 


•  The  Hickory  Groiud,  or  that  pan  of  the  Creek  nation  lying 
in  the  forks,  near  where  the  Coosa  and  Tallapoosa  unite,  was  i 
called  by  the  Indians  Holy  Ground,  from  a  Iradillon  and  lielief 
prevaihng  among  them,  that  it  never  had  been  pressed  by  ihe  I 
foot  of  a  while  man.    Acting  under  the  influence  of  their  pro-  ' 
phels,  and  a  religious  fanaticism,  it  was  supposed  they  woulo 
make  greater  exertions  to  defend  this  than  any  other  portioo  o< 
Abcir  comitF/  i 


LIFE   OF   GENERAL  JACKSON.  131 


intelligence  of  any  imbodied  forces  of  the  enemy  ; 
and,  without  the  happening  of  any  thing  of  im- 
portance, reached  old  Toulossee  Fort,  on  the  Coosa 
river,  not  Far  from  ihe  confluence,  at  which  another 
was  determined  to  be  erected,  to  be  called  Fort 
Jackson,  after  the  commanding  general.  Here  the 
rivers  approach  within  one  hundred  poles  of  each 
other,  and,  again  diverging,  unite  six  miles  below. 
At  this  place,  the  chiefs  of  the  different  tribes  were 
daily  arriving,  and  offering  to  submit  on  any  terms. 
They  all  concurred  in  their  statements,  that  those 
of  the  hostile  party,  who  were  still  opposed  to  ask- 
ing for  peace,  had  fled  from  the  nation,  and  sought 
refuge  along  the  coast  of  Florida,  and  in  Pensacola, 
General  Jackson  renewed  the  declaration,  that 
they  could  find  safety  in  no  other  way  than  by  re- 
pairing to  the  section  of  the  country  pointed  out 
to  them,  where  they  might  be  quiet  and  free  of  any 
sort  of  molestation. 

To  put  their  friendly  professions,  which  he  dis- 
trusted, at  once  to  the  test,  he  directed  them  to 
bring  Weatherford  to  his  camp,  confined,  that  he 
might  be  dealt  with  as  he  deserved.  He  was  one 
of  the  first  chiefs  of  the  nation,  and  had  been  a 
principal  actor  in  the  butchery  at  Fort  Mimms. 
Justice  well  demanded  retaliation  against  him. 
Learning  from  the  chiefs  what  had  been  required 
of  them  by  Jackson,  he  was  prevailed  upon,  as  per- 
haps the  safer  course,  to  proceed  to  his  camp,  and 
make  a  voluntary  surrender  of  himself.  Having 
reached  it  without  being  known,  and  obtained  ad 
mission  to  the  general's  quarters,  he  fearlessly  stood 
I  m  his  presence,  and  told  him  he  was  Weatherford, 
I  the  c^ief  who  had  commanded  at  Fort  Mimms,  and 
that,  desiring  peace  for  himself  and  for  his  people. 


ISS  LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON- 


he  had  come  to  ask  it.  Somewhat  surprised  that  one 
who  so  richly  merited  punishment  should  so  sternly 
demand  the  protection  which  had  been  extended  to 
others,  Jackson  replied  to  him,  that  he  was  astonish- 
ed he  should  venture  to  appear  in  his  presence ;  that 
he  was  not  ignorant  of  his  having  been  at  Fort 
Mimms,  nor  of  his  inhuman  conduct  there,  for  which 
he  well  deserved  to  die.  "  I  had  directed,"  con- 
tinued he,  "  that  you  should  be  brought  to  me  con- 
fined ;  and  had  you  appeared  in  this  way,  I  should 
have  known  how  to  have  treated  you."  Weather- 
ford  replied,  "  I  am  m  your  power — do  with  me  as 
you  please.  I  am  a  soldier  ;  I  have  done  the  white 
people  all  the  harm  I  could  ;  I  have  fought  them,, 
and  fought  them  bravely  ;  if  1  iiad  an  army,  I  would 
yet  fight,  and  contenu  lo  the  last :  but  I  have  none  ; 
my  people  are  all  gone.  I  can  now  do  no  more, 
than  weep  over  the  misfortunes  of  my  nation." 
Pleased  at  the  firm  and  high-toned  manner  of  this 
child  of  the  forest,  Jackson  informed  him,  that  he 
did  not  solicit  him  to  lay  down  his  arms,  or  to  be- 
come peaceable  :  "  The  terms  on  which  your  nation, 
can  be  saved,  and  peace  restored,  have  already  beea 
disclosed :  in  this  way,  and  none  other,  can  you. 
obtain  safety."  If,  however,  he  desired  still  to 
continue  the  war,  and  felt  himself  prepared  to  meet 
the  consequences,  although  he  was  then  completely 
in  his  power,  no  advantage  should  be  taken  of  that 
circumstance  ;  that  he  was  at  perfect  liberty  to  re- 
tire, and  unite  himself  with  the  war  party,  if  he 
oleased ;  but,  when  taken,  he  should  know  how  to 
'jteaX  him,  for  then  his  life  should  pay  the  forfeit  of 
bis  Crimea ;  if  this  were  not  desired,  he  might  rc 
main  where  he  was,  and  should  be  protected. 


UFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON.  193 

Nothing  dismayed,  Weatherford  answered,  that 
lie  desired  peace,  that  his  nation  might,  in  some 
meaisure,  be  relieved  from  their  sufferings ;  that, 
independent  of  other  misfortunes,  growing  out  of  a 
state  of  war,  their  cattle  and  grain  were  all  wasted 
and  destroyed,  and  their  women  and  children  left 
destitute  of  provisions.  "  But,"  continued  he,  "  I 
may  be  well  addressed  in  such  language  now. 
There  was  a  time  when  I  had  a  choice,  and  could 
have  answered  you :  I  have  none  now — even  hope 
has  ended.  Once  I  could  animate  my  warriors  to 
battle ;  but  I  cannot  animate  the  dead.  My  war- 
riors can  no  longer  hear  my  voice :  their  bones  are 
at  Talladega,  Tallushatchee,  Emuckfaw,  and  To- 
hopeka.  I  have  not  surrendered  myself  thought- 
lessly. Whilst  there  were  chances  of  success,  I 
never  left  my  post,  nor  supplicated  peace.  But  my 
people  are  gone,  and  I  now  ask  it  for  my  nation, 
and  for  myself.  On  the  miseries  and  misfortunes 
brought  upon  my  country,  I  look  back  with  deepest 
sorrow,  and  wish  to  avert  still  greater  calamities. 
If  I  had  been  left  to  contend  with  the  Georgia 
army,  I  would  have  raised  my  coru  on  one  bank  of 
the  river,  and  fought  them  on  the  other ;  but  your 
people  have  destroyed  my  nation.  You  are  a  brave 
man:  I  rely  upon  your  generosity.  You  will  ex- 
act no  terms  of  a  conquered  people  but  such  as 
they  should  accede  to :  whatever  they  may  be,  it 
would  now  be  madness  and  folly  to  oppose.  If 
they  are  opposed,  you  shall  find  me  amongst  the 
sternest  enforcers  of  obedience.  Those  who  would 
atill  hold  out  can  be  influenced  only  by  a  mean' 
spirit  of  revenge ;  and  to  this  they  must  not,  and 
shall  not,  sacrifice  the  last  remnant  of  their  country 
You^ave  told  our  nation  where  we  might  go,  and 
12 


134  LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON.  ' 

be  safe.  This  is  good  talk,  and  they  ought  to  Hster  i 
to  it.    They  shall  listen  to  it."  I 

The  bold  independence  of  his  conduct  left  no  I 
doubt  of  the  sincerity  of  his  professions,  and  full  ] 
confidence  was  reposed  in  his  declarations.  The  i 
peace  party  became  reconciled  to  him,  and  consent-  1 
ed  to  bury  all  previous  animosities.  In  a  few  days  I 
afterwards,  having  obtained  permission,  he  set  out  | 
from  camp,  accompanied  by  a  small  party,  to  search  I 
through  the  forest  for  his  followers  and  friends,  and  | 
persuade  them  to  give  up  a  contest  in  which  hope  : 
seemed  to  be  at  an  end,  that,  by  timely  submission, 
they  might  save  their  nation  from  further  disasters  I 

The  present  was  a  favourable  moment  for  pre  | 
venting  all  further  opposition.    The  enemy,  alarm  | 
ed,  were  dispersed,  and  fleeing  in  different  direc  i 
tions.    To  keep  alive  their  apprenensions,  and  pre 
vent  their  recovering  from  the  fears  with  which 
they  were  now  agitated,  was  of  the  utmost  impor  ' 
tance.    If  time  were  given  them  to  form  furthe'  j 
resolutions,  some  plan  of  operation  might  be  con- 
certed ;  and,  although  it  might  not  be  productive  of 
any  alarming  consequences,  yet  it  might  have  a 
tendency  to  lengthen  out  the  war,  and  involve  those  | 
deluded  people  in  still  greater  wretchedness.    De-  j 
tachments,  sufficiently  strong,  were  accordingly  or-  i 
dered  out,  to  range  through  the  country,  prevent  ! 
their  collecting  at  any  point,  and  to  scatter  and 
destroy  any  who  might  be  found  concerting  offen-  i 
sive  operations.     Wherever  they  directed  their  | 
course,  submission,  and  an  anxious  desire  for  peace,  i 
were  manifested  by  the  natives.    Those  who  were  j 
still  resolved  upon  a  continuance  of  the  war,  and  ' 
trusted  for  relief  to  the  aid  which  by  their  British 
allies  was  promised,  and  which  they  had  been  for  ^ 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON.  135 
• 

■ome  tme  expecting,  had  retired  out  of  the  country, 
towards  the  sea  coast,  not  doubting  but  the  assist- 
ance looked  for  would  shortly  arrive,  enable  them 
to  re-commence  hostilities  with  better  hopes  of  suc- 
cess, and  regain  their  country,  which  they  now 
considered  as  lost.  Many  of  the  chiefs  and  war- 
riors, looking  to  the  defeats  they  had  continually 
met  with  in  all  their  battles,  viewing  it  as  imprac- 
ticable, with  any  expectation  of  better  fortune,  to 
resist  the  numerous  forces  that  were  collecting,  and 
anxious  to  have  spared  to  them  a  portion  of  their 
country,  determined  to  discard  all  ideas  of  further 
resistance,  and  to  throw  themselves  for  safety  on  the 
mercy  of  their  conquerors.  To  this  end,  the  chief 
men,  firom  the  different  tribes,  were  daily  arriving, 
and  asking  for  peace,  on  condition  only  that  their 
lives  might  be  spared. 

General  Jackson  was  not  ignorant  of  the  faith- 
lessness of  these  people,  and  how  little  confidence 
was  to  be  reposed  in  the  professions  of  an  enemy, 
who,  prompted  by  fear,  could  be  controlled  only  by  its 
influence.  He  well  knew  they  had  been  too  se- 
verely chastised  for  their  promises  to  be  relied  on, 
and  too  much  injured  not  to  feel  a  disposition  to 
renew  the  conflict  with  the  first  flattering  hope 
that  dawned.  Too  many  difficulties  had  been  en- 
countered, and  too  many  dangers  past,  in  bringing 
those  savages  to  a  sense  of  duty,  to  leave  them  now 
with  no  better  security  than  mere  professions. 
Some  arrangement  was  necessary  to  be  made  that 
should  ensure  certainty.  None  seemed  fetter  cal- 
culated for  these  ends,  than  what  had  been  already 
announced ;  that  those  disposed  to  throw  away  the 
war  club,  and  renew  their  friendly  relations  with 
thft  United  States,  should  retire  in  the  rear  of  the 


I8t  LIFE  OP  GENERAL  JACKSUN. 

advance  of  the  army,  and  occupy  the  country  about  | 
the  fort  he  hswl  established,  and  to  the  east  of  the 
Coosa.    The  effect  of  such  an  arrangement  he  cal- 
culated would  be  this :  that,  by  the  line  of  posts 
already  established,  he  would  be  able  to  cut  them 
off  from  any  communication  with  Florida ;  while, 
by  being  placed  in  that  part  of  the  nation  inhabited 
by  the  friendly  Indians,  whose  fidelity  was  not  | 
doubted,  the  earliest  intelligence  would  be  had  of  ] 
their  hostile  intentions,  should  any  be  manifested,  j 
The  conditions  proposed  were  most  cheerfully  ac- 
cepted ;  and  the  different  tribes  forthwith  sat  out  to 
occupy  a  portion  of  their  country,  which  alone  j 
eeemed  to  promise  them  protection  and  safety 
Proctor,  the  chief  of  the  Owewoha  war  towns,  to 
whom  this  promised  security  from  danger  had  first 
been  made,  was  reported  to  be  still  at  home,  and  to 
have  abandoned  all  intention  of  removing,  in  con-  I 
sequence  of  permission  extended  by  the  United  I 
States'  agent  to  the  Creeks,  for  him  and  his  war- 
riors to  remain  where  they  then  were  residing.  On  I 
receiving  this  information,  the  general  despatched  1 
a  messenger  with  information  to  him,  that  whether  i 
he  or  the  agent  were  to  be  obeyed,  was  for  him  to 
decide  ;  but  that  he  should  treat  as  enemies  all 
who  did  not  immediately  retire  to  the  section  of 
country  which  he  had  pointed  out.    The  chief  of  j 
Owewoha  found  no  difficulty  in  deciding  the  ques-  I 
tion,  and  without  delay  prepared  to  retire  where  he  I 
had  been  previously  ordered.  ' 

Lieuteiyint-Colonel  Gibson,  who  had  been  sent  ' 
out  with  a  detachment  of  seven  hundred  and  fifty 
men,  returned,  and  reported,  that  he  had  proceeded  ' 
&  considerable  distance  down  the  Alabama  Rjver, 
and  had  destroyed  several  towns  of  the  war  party,  j 

i 

j 


UFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON.  137 


but  could  gain  no  intelligence  of  a  force  being  any 
where  collected. 

By  the  establishment  of  Fort  Jackson,  a  line  of 
posts  was  now  formed  from  Tennessee  and  from 
Georgia  to  the  Alabama  River.  The  subdued 
spirit  of  the  Indians  clearly  manifesting  that  they 
were  sincere  in  their  desire  for  peace,  nothing 
remained  to  be  done  but  to  organize  the  different 
garrisons  in  such  a  manner,  that,  should  any  hostik 
intention  be  hereafter  discovered,  it  might  be  sup- 
pressed. What  final  steps  should  be  taken,  and 
what  plans  adopted,  for  permanent  security,  were 
to  be  deferred  for  the  arrival  of  Major-General 
Pinckney,  who,  being  in  the  neighbourhood,  would, 
It  was  expected,  ou  tiie  next  day  reach  Fort  Jack 
eon. 

On  the  20th  General  Pinckney  arrived,  and  as- 
sumed the  command  of  the  army.  The  course 
pursued  by  Jackson,  towards  satisfying  the  Indians, 
that  to  be  peaceable  was  all  that  was  required, 
meeting  bia  approbation,  and  understanding  that 
the  chiefs  and  warriors  of  the  nation  were  retiring, 
with  their  families,  whither  they  had  been  directed, 
he  was  satisfied  hostilities  must  cease.  Indepen- 
dent of  their  professions,  heretofore,  much  of  the 
property  plundered  at  Fort  Mimms,  and  along  the 
frontiers,  having  been  brought  in,  no  doubt  was  en- 
tertained but  all  further  national  opposition  would 
be  withdrawn.  There  being  no  necessity,  there- 
fore, for  maintaining  an  army  longer  in  the  field, 
orders  were  issued,  on  the  21st,  for  the  troops  from 
Tenneasee  to  be  marched  home  and  discharged , 
taking  care,  on  the  route,  to  leave  a  sufficient  force 
for  garrisoning  the  posts  already  established. 

To  troops  who  had  been  engaged  in  eucb  fa- 
12* 


138  MFE    OF   GENERAL  JACKSON. 


tiguing  marches,  who  had  been  so  often  exposed  to  ' 
hardships,  and  who  had,  by  their  exertions  in  the 
cause  of  their  country,  brought  the  war  to  a  sue-  I 
cessful  termination,  and  severely  chastised  the  sav- 
ages, it  was  a  pleasure  to  retire  to  their  homes  from 
the  scenes  of  wretchedness  they  had  witnessed, 
and  from  a  contest  where  nothing  remained  to  be 
done.  I 

Whilst  these  arrangements  were  progressing, 
the  friendly  Creeks  were  engaged  in  destroying  ; 
their  fugitive  countrymen,  with  the  most  unrelent- 
ing rigour.    To  have  been  at  the  destruction  of 
Fort  Mimms,  was  a  ground  of  accusation  against 
a  warrior,  which  at  once  placed  him  without  the 
pale  of  mercy.    They  affected  to  view  this  un- 
provoked offence  with  sentiments  of  deeper  invete- 
racy than  did  even  our  own  troops.    Meeting  a 
small  party  who  were  on  their  way  to  camp,  to  sub-  i 
mit  themselves  on  the  terms  that  had  been  pre-  ! 
viously  offered,  and  understanding  they  had  ac-  j 
companied  VVeatherford  in  his  attack  on  this  fort,  j 
they  arrested  their  progress,  and  immediately  put  i 
them  to  death. 

In  two  hours  after  receiving  General's  Pinckney's 
order,  the  western  troops  commenced  their  return  ■ 
march,  and  reached  Fort  Williams  on  the  evening  ] 
of  the  24th.  Immediate  measures  were  adopted  j 
for  carrying  into  effect  what  had  been  ordered ;  to 
send  out  detachments  to  disperse  any  collections  | 
of  the  war  party  that  might  be  found  on  the  route,  j 
and  within  striking  distance. 

The  East  Tennessee  troops,  having  a  longer  pe-  | 
riod  to  serve,  were,  on  that  account,  selected  to 
garrison  the  different  posts.     General  Doherty 
waa  directed  to  detail  from  his  brigade  seven  hun 


i 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL   JACKSON.  139 


ixvi  and  twenty-five  men,  for  the  defence  of  those 
points,  with  a  view  to  an  open  communication  being 
preserved  with  Fort  Jackson,  and  to  secure  more 
effectually  a  peace,  which  was,  perhaps,  not  so  se- 
curely established  as  that  any  precautionary  meas- 
ure should  be  omitted.  I 

General  Jackson,  being  about  to  separate  from  ! 
his  army,  did  not  omit  to  disclose  to  them  the  high  [ 
sense  he  entertained  of  their  conduct,  and  how  well 
they  had  deserved  of  their  country.   "Within  a  few  I 
days,"  said  he,  "you  have  annihilated  the  power  of 
a  nation  that  for  twenty  years  has  been  the  dis- 
turber of  your  peace." 

The  army  proceeded  on  its  march,  and,  crossing  I 
Tennessee  River,  in  safety  reached  Camp  Blount,  | 
near  Fayetteville,  where  they  were  discharged  ; 
from  further  service.  Johnston,  who  had  previously 
fallen  in,  had  destroyed  some  of  the  enemy's  towns  ;  j 
but  had  learned  nothing  of  a  force  being  any  where  ; 
imbodied  along  the  route  he  had  taken.  | 

On  parting  from  his  troops,  the  general  again  ] 
brought  before  them  the  recollection  he  retained  of 
their  faithful  and  gallant  conduct,  and  the  patience 
with  which  they  had  borne  the  privations  and  hard-  i 
ships  of  war.    On  his  return,  wherever  he  passed, 
the  plaudits  of  tlie  people  were  liberally  bestowed.  | 
The  ardent  and  extraordinary  zeal  he  had  mani-  | 
fested  in  the  service  of  his  country,  the  difficulties 
he  had  surmounted,  with  the  favourable  termination 
which,  by  his  exertions,  had  been  given  to  a  contest 
that  had  kept  alive  the  anxieties  and  fears  of  the 
frontier  settlers,  excited  a  general  feeling  of  grati-  ' 
tude  and  admiration:  all  were  ready  to  evince  the 
high  sense  they  entertained  of  the  success  with 
which  every  effort  had  been  crowned,  and  with  ooa 


1 


140  LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON 


accord  united  in  manifesting  their  confidence  and 
respect  for  him,  who,  by  bis  zealous  exertions,  able 
management,  and  fidelity  to  the  cause  in  which  he 
had  embarked,  had  so  greatly  contributed  to  the 
safety,  the  happiness,  and  quiet  of  the  country. 


LVB  or  GENERAL  lACKSON.  141 


CHAPTER  VL 

Jaduon  it  appoh>Ud  a  major-general  in  the  service  of  the  Vnitd 
Stata. — Is  direrted  to  open  a  negotiation  tcHh  the  Indians. — 
Speech  of  the  Big  Warrior,  a  chief  of  the  Tuition. — Cmcludel 
a  treaty  toiih  the  Creek  Indians. — His  views  against  Pensacola 
and  rlorida. — General  Armstrong's  letter. —  TTie  Spanish 
governor  is  called  on  for  an  e.rploTiution  of  his  conduct. — His 
ansTcer,  and  General  Jackson's  reply. —  The  adjutani-general  it 
despatched  to  Tennessee  to  raise  mtmiteers. — Jacksoti  sets  out 
for  JUobile. — Orders  the  Tennessee  troops  to  advance  to  his  ai- 
tistance. 

The  celerity  with  which  an  army  was  raised, 
and  pushed  into  the  heart  of  the  enemy's  country, 
saved  the  frontiers.  Tlie  misfortunes  of  the  mis- 
guided Indians  may  be  regretted,  but  cannot  be 
considered  as  unmerited.  Great  forbearance  had 
been  exercised  towards  them,  as  many  a  parent  can 
testify,  whose  heart  bleeds  at  the  remembrance  of 
a  child  that  fell  a  victim  to  their  sanguinary  cruelty. 
Cold  Water,  on  the  Tennessee,  was  long  a  den  for 
these  savages,  whence  they  made  inroads,  and,  by 
their  inhuman  butcheries,  kept  the  frontier  inhabit- 
ants in  perpetual  alarm.  A  descent  was  made  on 
this  settlement,  as  early  as  1787.  which  resulted  in 
its  destruction.  For  causes  already  detailed,  their 
towns  were  once  more,  in  the  winter  of  1813,  as- 
sailed, and  destroyed. 

The  war  in  which  the  United  States  were  en- 
gaged with  Great  Britain,  afforded  the  Indians, 
as  they  believed,  a  safe  opportunity  again  to  satiate 
their  angry  passions.  In  addition  to  former  ani- 
mosities, British  emissaries  had  been  among  them, 
to  excite  them  to  opposition.  Arms  and  ammunition 
fron^  Pensacola  having  been  liberally  furnished, 
«b4  «  b«Uef  strongly  inspired,  that  the  Americans 


142  LIFE  OP  liENERAL  JACKSON 

could  be  driven  off,  and  the  lands  possessed  by  them  ^ 
regained  by  the  Indians,  they  at  once  resolved 
upon  the  course  they  would  pursue.    The  dreadful  ^ 
and  cruel  assault  made  on  the  settlement  of  Tensaw  ^ 
was  the  first  intelligence  afforded  of  the  lengths  to  i 
which  they  had  determined  to  proceed.    The  in- 
security of  the  frontiers  requiring  that  eflicient 
measures  should  be  taken  to  defend  them,  it  was 
high  time  for  the  government  to  abandon  the  course 
of  moderation  they  had  hitherto  practised  towards  I 
those  tribes.    The  legislature  of  Tennessee,  at  the  | 
period  of  this  murderous  assault,  being  in  session,  ' 
with  a  promptitude  highly  honourable,  called  out  the  '■ 
forces  of  the  state,  without  giving  to  the  general  | 
government  information  of  the  threatened  danger  , 
To  protect  an  extensive  country,  by  erecting  garri 
sons,  and  relying  on  them  for  defence,  did  not  ap 
pear  to  Jackson  a  course  at  all  likely  to  assure  it*  i 
object.    Placed  m  command,  and  called  on  to  act  j 
he  determined,  with  the  troops  he  could  collect  or  i 
so  sudden  an  emergency,  to  carry  the  war  to  tlieii 
very  doors  ;  and,  by  giving  them  employment  at  j 
home,  to  divert  them  from  their  plans,  and  force  ! 
them  at  once  into  measures  of  defence.  Urginp 
the  contractors,  therefore,  to  be  diligent  in  the  dis  ! 
charge  of  their  duties,  and  to  forward  supplies  witl  ! 
all  possible  haste,  he  took  his  position  at  Fort  Stro-  ' 
ther,  directly  in  the  enemy's  country.    The  battle 
of  Talladega,  which  shortly  afterwards  followed,  ' 
gave  a  severe  check  to  those  sanguine  hopes  they 
had  indulged,  induced  them  to  believe  they  were 
contending  with  a  different  kind  of  people  from 
what  they  had  expected,  and  should  have  convinced 
them,  too,  that  the  promised  safety,  offered  by  their 
prophets,  through  their  spells  and  incantations,  wat 
Biere  nonsense ;  yet  eo  deluded  w«re  they,  and  so 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JaCKSON.  143^ 

confidently  confiding  in  the  supernatural  powers  of 
Iheir  inspired  men,  tliat  they  were  ready  to  attribute 
a  want  of  success  to  circumstances  over  which 
their  prophou  could,  in  future,  claim  control . 
when  it  was  discovered  that  the  prophets  themselves 
did  not  escape  that  fatality  which  attended  their 
warriors  in  battle,  they  began  to  think,  either  that 
they  had  never  been  commissioned,  or  that  the 
Greal  Spirii,  for  some  unknown  cause,  had  with- 
drawn his  confidence. 

The  death  of  Monohoe,  at  the  battle  of  Tohope- 
ka,  is  strongly  illustrative  of  the  infatuations  under 
which  these  deluded  and  ignorant  people  laboured. 
They  did  not  at  all  doubt,  but,  as  their  prophets 
had  told  them,  that,  having  been  spoiled  of  their 
hunting-grounds,  they  were  again  to  re-occupy 
them  through  the  aid  of  a  new  people,  who  from 
beyond  the  great  waters  were  coming  to  assist  in 
their  recovery.  A  confidence  in  what  those  sooth- 
sayers disclosed  would,  also,  they  believed,  produce 
the  effect  of  protecting  and  guarding  them  {rom 
wounds  and  injury  when  engaged  in  battle.  All 
those  marvellous  stories  were  confided  in ;  but 
when,  at  this  battle,  one  of  their  principal  prophets- 
fell,  and  by  a  cannon  shot  received  in  the  mouthy 
they  adopted  the  opinion,  that  the  character  of  the 
wound  was  a  judgment  on  his  false  pretensions,  and 
forthwith  departed  from  those  visions  of  faith  which- 
previously  they  had  entertained. 

The  uniform  and  uninterrupted  successes  obtain- 
ed over  them,  in  all  our  battles,  may  impress  the- 
minds,  not  only  of  these,  but  of  the  Indians  gene- 
rally within  our  limits,  with  a  higher  reverence  for 
the  character  of  our  nation  than  they  have  hitherto 
baen  disposed  to  entertain  ;  give  protection  to  oa* 


144  LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON. 


citizens,  and  ensure  that  security  to  the  govern- 
ment, which  the  mildness  it  has  practised,  and  the 
tribute  it  has  constantly  given  them  for  their  peace, 
has,  heretofore,  never  been  able  to  effect;  they 
will  tend  to  destroy  the  influence  held  over  tijem 
by  otlier  nations,  and  bring  them  to  a  conviction, 
that  the  United  States  is  the  only  power  whose 
hostility  they  should  fear,  or  whose  friendship  they 
i^ould  prize. 

It  was  now  eight  months  since  General  Jackson 
had  left  home,  to  arrest  the  progress  of  the  Indian 
war ;  during  most  of  which  time  he  had  been  in  a 
situation  of  bodily  infirmity  that  would  have  direct- 
ed a  prudent  man  to  his  bed,  instead  of  advancing 
to  the  field.  During  this  period,  he  had  never  seen 
his  family,  or  been  absent  from  the  army,  except  to 
visit  the  posts  in  his  rear,  and  arrange  with  his  con- 
tractors some  certain  plan  to  guard  against  a  future 
failure  of  supplies.  His  health  was  still  delicate, 
and  rendered  retirement  essential  to  its  restoration  ; 
but  his  uniformly  successful  conduct,  and  the  es- 
sential advantages  he  had  produced,  had  brought 
him  too  conspicuously  before  the  public  for  any 
other  sentiment  to  be  indulged  than  that  he  should 
be  placed,  with  an  important  command,  in  the  ser- 
vrice  of  the  United  States. 

The  resignation  of  General  Hampton  enabled  the 
government,  in  a  short  time,  to  afford  him  an  evi- 
dence of  the  respect  it  entertained  for  his  servi- 
ces and  character.  A  notice  of  his  appointment  as 
brigadier  and  brevet  major-general,  was  forwarded, 
on  the  22d  of  May,  from  the  war  department. 
General  Harrison  having,  about  this  time,  for 
some  cause,  become  dissatisfied  with- -the  conduct 
of  the  government  towards  him,  refused  to  be  long- 


UFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKaON.  145 

cr  considered  one  of  her  military  actoni ;  to  supply 
this  vacancy,  a  commission  of  major-general  was 
forwarded  to  Jackson,  which  reached  him  the  day 
ailer  the  notification  of  his  first  appointment,  and 
before  he  had  been  enabled  to  return  an  answer 
whether  or  not  it  would  be  accepted.  The  impor- 
tant services  which  he  had  rendered,  added  to  the 
rank  which,  under  the  authority  of  his  state,  he 
had  held,  might  well  induce  a  doubt  whether  the 
appointment  first  conferred  was  at  all  complimen- 
tary, or  one  which,  in  justice  to  his  own  character, 
he  could  have  accepted.  Whatever  of  objection 
there  might  or  could  have  arisen,  on  this  subject, 
was  removed  by  the  subsequent  appointment  of 
major-general,  made  on  the  resignation  of  Harrison, 
and  which  was  accepted. 

The  contest  with  the  Indians  bemg  ended,  the 
first  object  of  the  goverimient  was,  to  enter  into 
some  definitive  arrangement,  which  should  deprive 
of  success  any  efibrt  that  might  hereafter  be  made, 
by  other  powers,  to  enlist  those  savages  m  their 
wars.  None  was  so  well  calculated  to  answer  thii 
end,  as  that  of  restricting  their  limits,  so  as  to  cut 
off  their  communication  with  British  and  Spanish 
agents  in  East  and  West  Florida. 

No  treaty  of  friendship  or  of  boundary  had  yet 
been  entered  into  by  the  government  with  the  In- 
dians: they  remained  a  conquered  people,  and 
within  the  limits,  and  subject  to  the  regulations  and 
restrictions,  which  had  been  prescribed  in  March, 
by  General  Jackson,  when  he  retired  from  their 
country.  He  was  now  called  upon  to  act  in  &  dif- 
'erent  character,  and  to  negotiate  the  terms  upon 
vhich  an  amicable  understanding  should  be  restored 
letween  the  United  States  and  these  conqucrad 
13 


146 


LII'E   OF  CENEItAL  JACKSON. 


1 


Indians.    But  for  the  government  to  proceed  on  ] 
the  principles  of  reciprocal  treaty  stipulations,  was,  I 
in  reference  to  the  expensive  war  imposed  on  them,  ] 
and  the  unprovoked  manner  in  which  it  liad  been  , 
begun,  not  to  be  expected.    Those  Indians  had  j 
broken  without  cause  the  treaty  they  had  made,  i 
outraged  humanity,  and  murdered  our  unoffending  ; 
citizens.    Under  such  circumstances,  by  the  peace  , 
now  to  be  concluded,  to  negotiate  with,  and,  as  here- 
tofore, recognise  them  as  an  independent  and  sove- 
reign people,  comported  not  with  propriety,  nor  j 
was  demanded  by  any  of  the  ties  of  moral  duty.  , 
General  Jackson,  therefore,  was  directed  to  treat  | 
with  them  as  a  conquered  people,  and  to  prescribe,  i 
not  negotiate,  the  conditions  of  a  peace.    Colonel  ! 
Hawkins,  who,  for  a  considerable  time  past,  had  ] 
been  the  agent  to  this  nation,  was  also  associated  ' 
in  the  mission.    With  the  western  people  the  ap-  ] 
pointment  was  not  acceptable,  and  much  solicitude 
was  felt  from  an  apprehension  of  his  influence  and  j 
weight  of  character  amongst  the  Indians ;  and  a 
fear  that  his  partialities  and  sympathies  might  in-  j 
cline  him  too  much  to  their  interest.  i 
On  the  10th  of  July,  the  general,  with  a  small  | 
retinue,  reached  the  Alabama;  and  on  the  10th  of  i 
August,  after  some  diflBculty,  succeeded  in  procur- 
ing the  execution  of  a  treaty,  in  which  the  Indiana  j 
pledged  themselves  no  more  to  listen  to  foreign  < 
emissaries, — to  hold  no  communication  with  British  | 
or  Spanish  garrisons ;  guarantied  to  the  United 
States  the  right  of  erecting  military  posts  in  their 
country,  and  a  free  navigation  of  all  their  waters. 
They  stipulated  also,  that  they  would  suffer  no  agent 
or  trader  to  pass  among  them,  or  hold  any  kmd  of 
commerce  or  intercourse  with  their  nation,  unless 


EIFB  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON.  147 


Specially  deriving  his  authority  from  the  president 
of  the  United  States. 

The  stipulations  and  exactions  of  this  treaty  were 
m  conformity  with  instructions  issued  from  the  de- 
partment of  war,  and  differs  in  expression  fron: 
what  has  heen  usually  contained  in  instruments  of 
a  similar  kind.  It  breathes  the  language  of  de- 
mand, not  of  contract  and  agreement;  and  hence 
has  General  Jackson  been  censured  for  the  manner 
after  which  the  negotiation  was  concluded.  The 
course,  however,  which  was  pursued,  is  readily  jus- 
tified by  the  expressions  of  the  order  under  which 
he  acted,  and  which  prevented  the  exercise  of  dis- 
cretion. General  Armstrong,  who  at  that  time  was 
in  the  cabinet,  and  spoke  the  sentiments  of  the 
president,  in  a  letter  addressed  to  Jackson  on  the 
24th  of  March,  uses  the  following  remarks : — "  It 
has  occurred  to  me,  that  the  proposed  treaty  with 
the  Creeks  should  take  a  form  altogether  military, 
and  be  in  the  nature  of  a  capitulation ;  in  which 
case  the  whole  authority  of  making  and  conclud 
ing  the  terms  will  be  in  you  exclusively,  as  com- 
manding general."  Accompanying  this  were  in- 
structions formally  drawn  up,  and  which  were  to 
constitute  the  basis  on  which  the  negotiation  waa 
to  rest.* 


*  In  tbe  iustructions  which  issued  from  ihe  department  of  war, 
a*  tlie  basis  on  which  this  treaty  was  to  be  concluded,  it  is  en- 
joii^  by  the  secretary.'  to  exact, 

"  IsL  An  indemniticaiiou  for  expenses  incurred  by  the  United 
Slates  in  prosecuting  the  war,  by  such  cession  of  land  as  may 
be  deemed  an  equivalent  for  said  expenses. 

"  '2d.  A  stipulation  on  their  part,  that  tliey  will  cease  all  inter- 
course with  any  Spanish  port,  garrison  or  town;  and  that  they 
will  not  admit  amongst  them  any  agent  or  trader  who  does  not 
derive  his  authority  or  license  from  ine  United  States. 


148          Lirt.  OF  esMERAi.  jacrson.  j 

To  settle  the  boundary,  defining  the  extent  of  ' 
territory  to  be  secured  to  the  Creeks,  and  that  whic),  ] 
they  would  be  required  to  surrender,  was  attended  ' 
with  difficulty,  from  the  intrigues  of  the  Cherokee  ' 
nation,  who  sought  to  obtain  such  an  acknowledg- "  j 
ment  of  their  lines  as  would  give  them  a  consider-  " 
able  portion  of  country  never  attached  to  their  : 
claim.    The  Creeks  had  heretofore  permitted  this  | 
tribe  to  extend  its  settlements  as  low  down  the  | 
Coosa  as  the  mouth  of  Wills'  Creek.   It  was  insist-  i 
ed  now,  in  private  council,  that,  as  they  were  about 
to  surrender  their  country  lying  on  the  Tennessee 
River,  they  should,  previously  to  signing  the  treaty, 
acknowledge  the  extension  of  the  Cherokee  boun- 
dary, which  would  secure  their  claim  against  that  ' 
of  the  United  States.    The  only  reply  obtained  i 
from  the  Creeks  was  in  truly  Indian  spirit,  that 
they  could  not  lie  by  admitting  what  did  not  in  j 
reality  exist. 

Sufficient  territory  was  acquired  on  the  south  to  | 

give  security  to  the  Mobile  settlements,  and  to  the  ' 

western  borders  of  Georgia,  which  had  often  felt  i 

the  stroke  of  Indian  vengeance  and  cruelty  ;  while  ' 

at  the  same  time  was  effected  the  important  purpose  | 

of  separating  them  from  the  Seminole  tribes,  and  our  \ 

unfriendly  neighbours  in  Florida.   To  the  frontiers  , 

of  Tennessee  an  assurance  of  safety  was  given  by  | 

the  settlements  which  would  be  afforded  on  the  . 

open  roads  through  their  territory,  and  also  to  estahllsh  such  ' 
military  posts  and  trading  houses  as  may  be  deemed  necessary 

and  proper ;  and  i 

"  4lh.  A  smrender  of  the  prophets,  and  other  ijisligators  of  the 
war,  to  be  held  subject  to  the  order  of  the  president. 

"  You  are  authorized,  in  conjunction  with  Colonel  Hawkins,  to  i 
open  and  conclude  a  treaty  of  peace  with  the  hostile  Creeks,  as 
soon  as  they  shall  express  a  desire  to  put  an  end  to  the  war. 

"J.ARMSTRONG.' 

i 
I 


1 

•  I 
J 


LIFK  OF  (iENEHAL  JACKSON.  149  . 

hnia  stretching'  along  the  Tennessee  River ;  whilst  ' 
the  extent  of  the  cession,  west  of  the  Coosa,  would  ^ 
effectually  cut  off  all  communication  with  the  Chick- 
asaws  and  Choctaws,  and  prevent,  in  future,  the 
passage  of  those  emissaries  from  the  north-western 
tribes,  who,  during  the  present  war,  had  so  Indus-  | 
triously  fomented  the  discontents  of  the  Creeks,  | 
and  excited  them  to  hostility.  I 
Before  being  finally  acted  upon,  the  treaty  had  1 
been  fully  debated  in  council,  and  the  voice  of  the 
nation  pronounced  against  it.   Jackson  had  already  | 
submitted  the  views  of  his  government,  and  now  | 
met  them  in  council,  to  learn  their  determination.  ] 
He  was  answered  by  the  Big  Warrior,  a  friendly 
chief,  and  one  of  the  first  orators  of  the  nation, 
who  declared  the  reluctance  that  was  felt,  in  yield- 
ing to  the  demand,  from  a  conviction  of  the  conse-  ■ 
quences  involved,  and  the  distresses  it  must  inevita-  I 
bly  bring  upon  them.    The  firm  and  dignified  elo- 
quence of  this  untutored  orator  evinced  a  nerve 
and  force  of  expression,  that  might  net  have  passed 
unnoticed,  had  it  been  exhibited  before  a  more 
highly  polished  assembly :  the  conclusion  of  his  j 
speech  is  given,  for  the  satisfaction  of  such  as  can  i 
i  mark  the  bold  display  of  savage  genius,  and  admire  ' 
I  it  when  discovered.    Having  unfolded  the  causes  ' 
'  that  produced  the  war,  told  of  their  sufferings,  and  | 
admitted  that  they  had  been  preserved  alone  by  the  i 
army  which  had  hastened  to  their  assistance,  he  | 
urged,  that,  although  in  justice  it  might  be  required  ' 
of  them  to  defray,  by  a  transfer  of  a  portion  of  j 
their  country,  the  expenses  incurred,  yet  was  the 
demand  premature,  because  the  war  was  not  ended,  ' 
nor  the  war  party  conquered ;  they  had  only  fled  ] 
away,  and  might  yet  return    He  portrayed  the 

13  *  I 


150  LirE   OP   GENEHAL  JACKSON. 


habits  of  the  Indians,  and  how  seriously  they  would  i 
be  affected  by  the  surrender  required  of  them,  and 
thus  concluded : 

"  The  president,  our  father,  advises  us  to  honesty  j 

and  fairness,  and  promises  that  justice  shall  be-  i 

done:  I  hope  and  trust  it  will  be!  I  made  this  war,'  ^ 

which  has  proved  so  fatal  to  niy  country,  that  the  i 

treaty  entered  into  a  long  time  ago,  with  father  { 

Washington,  might  not  be  broken.  To  his  friendly  ; 
arm  I  hold  fast.    I  will  never  break  that  bright 

chain  of  friendship  we  made  together,  and  which  i 
bound  us  to  stand  to  the  United  States.   He  was  a 
father  to  the  Muscoga  people ;  and  not  only  to  them, 
but  to  all  the  people  beneath  the  sun.    His  talk  I 

now  hold  in  my  hand.    Tliere  sits  the  agent  he  | 

sent  among  us.    Never  has  he  broken  the  treaty  j 

He  has  lived  with  us  a  long  time.    He  has  seen  ] 

our  children  born,  who  now  have  children.    By  his  j 

direction  cloth  was  wove,  and  clothes  were  made,  | 
and  spread  through  our  country  ;  but  the  Red 
Sticks  came,  and  destroyed  all, — we  have  none  now 
Hard  is  our  situation,  and  you  ought  to  consider  it. 

I  state  what  all  the  nation  knows :  nothing  will  1  < 

keep  secret.  j 

"There  stands  the  Little  Warrior.    While  we  i 

were  seeking  to  give  satisfaction  for  the  murders  i 

that  had  been  committed,  he  proved  a  mischief-  j 

maker ;  he  went  to  the  British  on  the  lakes  ;  he  , 

cime  back,  and  brought  a  package  to  the  frontiers,  j 

which  increased  the  murders  here.    This  conduct  | 

has  already  made  the  war  party  to  suffer  greatly  ;  ' 
but,  although  almost  destroyed,  they  will  not  yet 

open  their  eyes,  but  are  still  led  away  by  the  i 

British  at  Pensacola.    Not  so  with  us :  we  were  ' 

ratioaal,  and  had  our  senses — we  yet  are  so.    In  l 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON.  151 

the  war  of  the  revolution,  our  father  beyond  the 
waters  encouraged  us  to  join  him,  and  we  did  so. 
We  had  no  sense  then.  The  promises  he  made 
were  never  kept.  We  were  young  and  foolish, 
and  fought  with  him.  The  British  can  no  more 
persuade  us  to  do  wrong:  they  have  deceived  us 
once,  and  can  deceive  us  no  more.  You  are  two 
great  people.  If  you  go  to  war,  we  will  have  no 
concern  in  it;  for  we  are  not  able  to  iight  We 
wish  to  be  at  peace  with  every  nation.  If  they 
offer  me  arms,  I  will  say  to  them.  You  put  me  in 
danger,  to  war  against  a  people  born  in  our  own 
land.  They  shall  never  force  us  into  danger.  You 
shall  never  see  that  our  chiefs  are  boys  in  councL, 
who  will  be  forced  to  do  any  thing.  I  talk  thug, 
knowing  that  father  Washington  advised  us  never 
to  interfere  in  wars.  He  told  us  that  those  in 
peace  were  the  happiest  people.  He  told  us  that, 
if  an  enemy  attacked  him,  he  had  warriors  enough, 
and  did  not  wish  his  red  children  to  help  him.  If 
the  British  advise  us  to  any  thing,  I  will  tell  you — 
not  hide  it  from  you.  If  they  say  we  must  fight,  I 
will  teU  them.  No !" 

The  war  party  being  not  entirely  subdued,  was 
but  a  pretext  to  avoid  the  demands  which  were 
made ;  presuming  that,  if  the  council  could  break 
up,  without  any  thing  be  ng  definitely  done,  they 
might,  in  part,  or  perhaps  altogether,  avoid  what 
was  now  required  of  them ;  but  the  inflexibility  of 
the  person  with  whom  they  were  treating  evinced 
to  them,  that,  however  just  and  well  founded  might 
be  their  objections,  the  policy  under  which  he  acted 
was  too  clearly  defined,  for  any  abandonment  of  his 
demands  to  be  at  all  calculated  upon.  Shelocta, 
«n«  of  their  chiefs,  who  had  united  with  our  trooin 


152  LIFE    or   GENERAL  JACKSOW. 


at  the  commencement  of  the  war  ;  who  had  march 
ed  and  fought  with  them  in  all  their  battles  ;  and 
had  attached  to  himself  strongly  the  confidence  of 
the  commanding  general,  now  addressed  him.  He 
told  him  of  the  regard  he  had  ever  felt  for  his 
white  brothers,  and  with  what  zeal  he  had  exerted 
himself  to  preserve  peace,  and  keep  in  friendship 
with  them  ;  when  his  efforts  had  failed,  he  had 
taken  up  arms  against  his  own  country,  and  fought 
against  his  own  people  ;  that  he  was  not  opposed  to 
yielding  the  lands  lying  on  the  Alabama,  which 
would  answer  the  purpose  of  cutting  off  any  inter- 
course with  the  Spaniards ;  but  the  country  west 
of  the  Coosa  he  wished  to  be  preserved  to  the  na- 
tion* To  effect  this,  he  appealed  to  the  feelings 
of  Jackson  ;  told  him  of  tlie  dangers  they  had  pass- 
ed together  ;  and  of  his  faithfulness  to  him  in  the 
trying  scenes  through  which  they  had  gone. 

There  were,  indeed,  none  whose  voice  ought 
sooner  to  have  been  heard  than  Shclocta's.  None 
had  rendered  greater  services,  and  none  had  been 
more  faithful.  He  had  claims,  growing  out  of  his 
fidelity,  that  few  others  had :  but  his  wishes  were 
80  much  at  variance  with  what  Jackson  considered 
the  interest  of  his  country  required,  that  he  was 
answered  without  hesitation.  "  You  know,"  said 
he,  "  that  the  portion  of  country,  which  you  desire 
to  retain,  is  that  through  which  the  intruders  and 
mischief-makers  from  the  lakes  reached  you,  and 
urged  your  nation  to  those  acts  of  violence,  that 
have  involved  your  people  in  wretchedness,  and 
your  country  in  ruin.  Through  it  leads  the  path 
Tecumseh  trod,  when  he  came  to  visit  you :  that 

*  This  country  west  of  the  Coosa  now  forms  the  respectable 
State  of  Alabama,  admitted  into  the  Union  in  the  year  1S19. 


Un  OF  SBIfZflAL  JACKSON.  153 


path  must  be  stopped.  Until  this  be  done,  your 
nation  cannot  expect  happiness,  nor  mine  security. 
I  have  already  told  you  the  reasons  for  demanding 
it:  they  are  such  as  ought  not— cannot  be  departed 
from.  This  evening  must  determine  whether  or 
not  you  are  disposed  to  become  friendly.  By  re- 
jecting the  treaty  you  will  show  that  you  are  the 
enemies  of  the  United  States — enemies  even  to 
yourselves."  He  admitted  it  to  be  true,  that  the 
war  was  not  ended,  yet  tliat  this  was  an  additional 
reason  why  the  cession  should  be  made  ;  that  then 
a  line  would  be  drawn,  by  which  his  soldiers  would 
be  enabled  to  know  their  friends.  "  When  our 
armies,"  continued  he,  "came  here,  the  hostile 
party  had  even  stripped  you  of  your  country  :  we 
retook  it,  and  now  offer  to  restore  it; — theirs  we 
propose  to  retain.  Those  who  are  disposed  to  give 
effect  to  the  treaty  will  sign  it  They  wiU  bo 
within  our  territory ;  will  be  protected  and  fed  ; 
and  no  enemy  of  theirs,  or  ours,  shall  molest  tlicm. 
Those  who  are  opposed  to  it  shall  have  permission 
to  retire  to  Pensacola.  Here  is  the  paper  :  take  it, 
and  show  the  president  who  are  his  friends.  Con- 
sult, and  this  evening  let  me  know  who  will  assent 
to  it,  and  who  will  not  I  do  not  wish,  nor  will  I 
attempt,  to  force  any  of  you — act  as  you  think 
proper.' 

They  proceeded  to  deliberate  and  re-examine 
the  course  they  should  pursue,  which  terminated  in 
their  assent  to  the  treaty,  and  the  extension  of  those 
advantages  that  had  been  insisted  on.* 

*  It  was  agreed  that  ibe  line  should  begin  where  the  Cherokee 
southern  boundarj-  crossed  the  Coosa,  to  run  down  that  river  to 
Woetum-ka,  or  the  Big  Falls,  and  t'.ience  eastwardly  to  Georeia. 
East  and  north  of  this  line,  containing  upwards  of  one  huuarcd 
aad  fifty  thousand  square  miles,  remauied  to  the  Indians. 


154  LIFE  OP  OENEIIAL  JACKSON, 

In  the  progress  of  tliis  business  anotiier  difficul- 
ty arosj:  the  council  insisted  tiiat  there  sliould  be 
inserted  in  the  treaty  a  reservation  of  certain  tracts 
of  land  ;  one  for  Colonel  Hawkins,  in  consideration 
of  his  fidelity  to  them  as  an  agent;  and  another  to 
Jackson,  because  of  the  gratitude  felt  towards  him 
for  his  exertions  in  their  favour  against  the  hostile 
Creeks.  To  this  the  general  objected.  It  was 
personal  as  it  regarded  hunself,  and  he  was  unwil- 
ling to  appear  in  any  point  of  view,  where  suspicion 
could  attach,  that  he  had  availed  himself  of  his 
Bfficial  situation  to  obtain  personal  benefits  ;  fully 
aware  that,  however  the  facts  might  be,  selfish  con- 
siderations would  be  imputed  as  an  inducement  to 
what  was  done.  He  refused,  therefore,  to  have  it 
mserted ;  and  for  the  further  reason,  that  the  in- 
structions, under  which  he  was  acting,  required  it 
to  be  a  capitulation,  not  a  treaty.  The  next  morn- 
ing, however,  when  they  met  in  council  to  sign  the 
instrument,  the  chiefs  delivered  to  the  general  a 
paper,  expressing  a  wish,  and  disclosing  their  rea- 
sons, that  a  reservation  to  himself.  Colonel  Haw- 
kins, and  Mayfield,  who,  being  made  a  prisoner  in 
his  youth,  had  always  resided  in  the  nation,  might 
be  assented  to ;  and  requested  it  to  be  forwarded 
on  and  made  known  to  tlie  government.  Jackson 
consented  to  do  so,  and  to  recommend  its  adoption  . 
but  tliat  the  reservation  they  had  thought  proper  to 
request,  if  assented  to,  he  would  accept  of  on  no 
other  terms  than  that  their  father  the  president 
should  dispose  of  it,  and  apply  the  proceeds  to  those 
of  the  nation  on  whom  distress  and  poverty  had 
been  brought  by  the  war.  Mr.  Madison  subse- 
quently brought  this  matter  to  the  consideration  of 
the  senate  of  the  United  States,  and,  in  recoiu* 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON.              155  j 

mending  its  adoption,  highly  complimented  the  del-  ■ 

icacy  with  which  the  proposition  had  been  met  by  j 

General  Jackson :  it  was,  however,  never  acted  on  ' 

and  assented  to  by  the  senate.  ! 

Every  attention  had  been  given,  during  the  ne-  i 

gotiation,  to  impress  on  the  minds  of  the  savages  1 

the  necessity  of  remaining  at  peace  and  in  friendship  J 

with  the  United  States  ;  for,  although  all  apprehen-  ' 

Eions  of  their  acting  in  concert  as  a  nation  had  sub-  \ 

sided,  yet  it  was  important  to  leave  their  minds  ] 

favourably  impressed,  lest  the  wandering  fugitives,  j 
scattered  in  considerable  numbers  towards  the  Es- 
cambia and  Pensacola,  might,  by  continuing  hostile, 

associate  with  them  others  of  their  countrjTnen,  at-  I 

tach  themselves  to  the  British,  should  they  appear  j 

in  the  south,  aid  them  by  their  numbers,  and  pilot  : 
them  through  the  coimtry. 

This  retreat  of  the  savages  in  East  Florida  had  ■ 
been  always  looked  upon  as  a  place  whence  the 

United  States  might  apprehend  serious  difficulties.  | 
There  was  no  doubt  but  that  the  British,  through 

this  channel,  with  the  aid  of  the  governor,  had  pro-  | 
tected  the  Indians,  and  supplied  them  with  arma 
and  ammunition ;  nor  was  it  less  certain  but  that, 

through  the  art  and  address  practised  on  them,  they  ' 

had  been  excited  to  the  outrages  which  had  been  i 

heretofore  committed.  It  was  an  idea  entertained  I 
by  Jackson,  at  the  commencement  of  the  Creek  weir, 

that  the  proper  mode  of  procedure  would  be  to  ] 

push  his  army  through  the  nation ;  gain  this  den,  ] 

where  vegetated  so  many  evils ;  and,  by  holding  it,  ' 

effectually  cut  off  their  intercourse,  and  means  of  i 

encouraging  the  war :  but  the  unexpected  difficul-  i 

ties,  which  we  have  before  noticed,  had  repressed  i 

the  execution  of  his  well-digested  plans,  and  left  ' 


i 
i 


156  LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON. 


him  to  pursue  his  course  as  circumstances,  and  the 
obstacles  met  with,  would  permit.  The  assistance 
which,  during  the  war,  Lad  been  continually  afford- 
ed these  people  from  Pensacola,  induced  him  once 
more  to  turn  his  attention  there ;  and  he  now 
strongly  urged  on  government  the  propriety  of 
breaking  down  this  strong  iiold,  whence  so  many 
evils  had  flowed,  and  whence  greater  ones  were  to 
be  expected.  His  mind,  actively  engaged,  while 
employed  in  settling  all  differences  at  Fort  Jackson, 
had  sought,  through  every  channel  that  could  afford 
it,  information  as  to  the  designs  of  the  British 
against  the  southern  parts  of  the  Union.  The  idea 
nad  been  prevalent,  and  generally  indulged,  that, 
as  soon  as  the  severity  of  approaching  winter  should 
put  a  stop  to  active  operations  on  the  Canada  fron- 
tier, with  all  their  disposable  force,  they  wodld  turn 
their  attention  a  gainst  the  southern  states,  and  there 
attempt  to  gain  some  decisive  advantage.  New 
Orleans,  with  one  consent,  was  fixed  upon  as  the 
point  that  most  probably  would  be  assailed.  The 
circumstance  of  there  being  so  many  persons  there, 
who  have  never  been  supposed  to  entertain  any 
well-founded  regard  for  the  country  in  which  they 
/ived,  together  with  a  large  black  population,  which, 
it  was  feared,  might  be  excited  to  insurrection  and 
massacre,  through  the  persuasions  of  an  enemy  who 
seemed  to  disregard  all  the  laws  of  humanity, 
were  reasons  which  strongly  led  to  this  conclusion. 

General  Jackson,  having  understood  that  that 
comfort  and  aid,  which  heretofore  had  been  so  lib- 
erally extended,  was  still  afforded  by  the  Spanish 
governor  to  the  liostile  Indians,  who  had  fled  from 
the  ravages  of  the  Creek  war,  cherished  the  belief 
that  hi3  conduct  was  such  as  deservedly  to  exclude 


LIFE  OF  UENERAL  JACKSON- 


157  j 


him  from  that  protection  to  which,  under  other  cir- 
cumstances, he  would  be  entitled,  from  the  profess-  j 
ed  neutralitj'  of  Spain.    At  all  events,  if  the  im-  \ 
•jroper  acts  of  the  Spamsh  agents  wouIq  not  author-  i 
ize  the  American  govenmient  opeidy  to  redress  i 
herself  for  the  unprovoked  injuries  she  had  received 
they  were  such,  he  believed,  as  would  justify  any  j 
course  which  had  for  its  object  to  arrest  tlieir  con-  i 
tinuance,  and  give  safety  to  the  country.  In  this  point  | 
of  view  he  had  already  considered  it,  when,  on  his  ; 
way  to  the  treaty  at  Fort  Jackson,  lie  received  certain  | 
information,  that  about  three  hundred  English  troops 
had  landed ;   were  fortifying  themselves  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Apalachicola  ;  and  were  endeavouring  ' 
to  excite  the  Indians  to  war.    No  time  was  lost  in  I 
giving  the  government  notice  of  what  was  passing,  \ 
and  of  the  course  most  advisable  to  be  pursued.  ' 
The  advantages  to  be  secured  from  the  possession  i 
of  PpHsacola  he  had  frequently  urged. 

On  the  17th  of  January,  1815,  after  the  British  | 
army  had  been  repulsed  at  New  Orleans,  and  the  de-  ' 
scent  on  Florida  almost  forgotten,  through  the  post  ■ 
office  department,  dated  at  Washington  city,  the  ISth 
of  July,  1814,  he  received  the  following  letter  from 
General  Armstrong,  then  secretary  at  war  :  | 

"  The  case  you  put  is  a  very  strong  one  :  and,  if 
all  the  circumstances  stated  by  you  unite,  the  con- 
clusion is  irresistible.  It  becomes  our  duty  to  carry 
our  arms  where  we  find  our  enemies.  It  is  believed, 
and  I  am  so  directed  by  the  president  to  say,  tliat 
there  is  a  disposition,  on  the  part  of  the  Spanish  gov-  ' 
€rnment,  not  to  break  with  the  United  States,  nortc  | 
^  ■encourage  any  conduct,  on  the  part  of  her  sir^^'li- 
oate  agents,  having  a  tendency  to  such  rupture.  We 
must,  therefore,  in  tliis  -,ase  be  careful  to  ascertain  j 
11  I 


158  LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON. 


1 


facts,  and  even  to  distinguish  what,  on  the  part  of  tha  | 
Spanish  authorities,  may  be  the  effect  of  menace  \ 
and  compulsion,  or  of  their  choice  and  policy.  The  i 
result  of  this  inquiry  must  govern.    If  they  ad- 
mit, feed,  arm,  and  co-operate  with  the  British  and 
hostile  Indians,  we  must  strike  on  the  broad  princi 
pie  of  self-preservation  : — under  other  and  differen'  j 
circumstances,  we  must  forbear.''  i 

That  the  state  of  things,  here  suggested  by  the 
secretary,  did  actually  exist ;  that  the  British  were  ] 
favourably  received,  and  every  assistance  necessary 
to  a  continuance  of  hostilities  extended  to  the  Indi-  ' 
ans,  the  government  had  been  already  apprized,  by  [ 
the  frequent  communications  made  to  them  on  the 
subject. 

On  arriving  at  Fort  Jackson,  his  first  attention 
had  been  directed  to  a  subject  which  he  believed  to 
be  of  greater  importance  than  making  Indian  trea-  ' 
ties — to  establish  a  plan  by  which  to  be  constantly 
advised,  during  his  stay,  of  those  schemes  that  were 
in  agitation  in  the  south:  believing  that  every  ! 
passing  event  might  be  readily  obtained  through  j 
the  Indians,  who  could  go  among  the  British  with-  ( 
out  in  the  least  exciting  suspicion,  he  had  required  ' 
Colonel  Hawkins  to  procure  some,  who  were  confi-  > 
dential,  and  might  be  certainly  relied  on,  to  proceed  i 
to  the  Apalachicola,  and  towards  the  coast,  and  to  \ 
return  as  early  as  they  could  obtain  correct  infor-  i 
mation  of  the  strength,  views,  and  situation  of  the  ; 
enemy.  In  about  fifteen  days  they  came  back,  con  j 
firming  the  statement  previously  received,  that  a  i 
considerable  English  force  had  arrived,  and  was 
then  in  the  Bay  of  St.  Rose  ;  that  muskets  and  am-  ; 
munition  had  been  given  to  the  Indians,  and  runners  1 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON.  159 


despatched  to  the  difTerent  tribes  to  invite  them  to 
the  coast. 

Satisfied  that  such  pennissions,  by  a  neutral 
power,  were  too  grievous  to  be  borne,  he  immedi- 
ately addressed  a  letter  to  the  governor  of  Pensa- 
cola,  apprizing  him  of  the  information  received ; 
and  inquiring  why  and  wherefore  it  happened  that 
every  protection  and  assistance  was  furnished  the 
enemies  of  the  United  States,  within  his  territory  ; 
requesting  him  to  state  whether  or  not  the  facts 
were  as  they  had  been  represented  ;  and  demanding 
to  have  surrendered  to  him  such  of  the  chiefs  of 
the  hostile  Indians  as  were  with  him.  "  I  rely," 
continued  he,  "  on  the  existing  friendship  of  Spain, 
her  treaties,  and  thai  neutrality  which  she  should 
observe,  aa  authority  for  the  demand  I  make."  The 
governor's  answer,  which  shortly  afterwards  was 
received,  evinced  nothing  of  a  conciliatory  temper, 
and  left  no  hope  of  procuring  any  other  redress 
than  that  which  might  be  obtained  through  some 
different  channel.  It  was  a  subject,  however, 
which  required  to  be  managed  with  considerable 
caution.  Spain  and  the  United  States  were  at 
peace.  To  reduce  any  portion  of  her  territory,  and 
take  possession  of  it,  in  exclusion  of  her  authority, 
might  be  construed  such  an  aggression  as  to  induce 
her  into  the  war.  On  the  other  hand,  for  her,  with 
open  arms,  to  receive  our  enemies,  and  permit  them 
to  make  every  preparation,  within  her  ports,  for  in- 
vading our  country,  were  outrages  too  monstrous 
to  be  borne,  and,  in  the  opinion  of  Jackson,  required 
to  be  remedied,  let  the  consequences  in  prospective 
be  what  they  might.  Although  these  things  had 
been  earnestly  pressed  upon  the  consideration  of 
the  war  department,  no  answer  to  his  repeated  so- 


160  LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON. 

licitations  on  the  subject  had  been  received.    On  ' 

his  own  responsibility,  to  advance  to  the  execution  , 

of  a  measure,  which  involved  so  much,  when  his  j 

government  was,  and  had  for  some  time  been,  in  | 

possession  of  all  the  circumstances,  was  risking  too  ' 

much.     Yet,  were  it  delayed  longer,  every  day  \ 

might  give  to  Pensacola  additional  strength,  and  ' 

increase  the  danger  attendant  on  its  reduction,  j 

Undetermined,  under  considerations  like  these,  he  i 

resolved  upon  another  expedient — to  despatch  a  j 

messenger,  to  lay  open  to  the  governor  the  ground  j 
of  his  complaint — obtain  from  him  a  declaration  of 

his  intention,  as  regarded  the  course  he  meant  to  i 

adopt,  and  pursue — and  ascertain  whether  he  de-  I 

signed  to  make  subsisting  treaties,  between  the  two  j 

nations,  the  basis  of  his  conduct,  or  to  pursue  a  con-  | 
cealed  course,  which,  under  the  garb  of  pretended 

friendship,  cloaked  all  the  realities  of  war.    The  | 

propriety  of  delivering  up  the  hostile  Indians,  who  , 

were  with  him,  to  atone  for  the  violation  of  existing  j 

treaties,  and  the  rights  of  humanity,  and  the  mur-  ' 

ders  they  had  committed,  was  again  solicited.  | 

A  reply  was  not  concluded  on  by  the  governor  | 
for  some  time,  ov/ing  to  a  very  considerable  doubt  j 
that  harassed  his  mind  whether  it  would  not  be  j 
more  proper  to  return  it  without  an  answer,  "  in  im-  i 
tation  of  the  conduct  of  General  Flournoy,  who,  j 
acting  in  conformity  to  the  orders  of  Mr.  Madison,  ; 
heretofore  had  omitted  to  answer  a  despatch  of  his."  j 
But,  having  considered  the  matter  quite  deliberate- 
ly, lie  at  length  came  to  the  conclusion,  to  wave  the  | 
example  set  him  by  the  president,  and,  in  replying  i 
to  act  in  obedience  to  those  "  high  and  generous  ' 
feelings  peculiar  to  the  Spanish  character."  i 

To  the  demand  made  upon  him,  that  the  hostil*  ! 


J 


UFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON.  161 


Indians  should  be  delivered  up,  he  denied  that  they 
were  with  him,  "  at  that  time,"  or  that  he  could,  on 
the  ground  of  hospitality,  refuse  them  assistance 
at  a  moment  when  their  distresses  were  so  great : 
nor  could  he  surrender  them,  without  acting  in  open 
violation  of  the  laws  of  nations, — laws,  to  which  his 
sovereign  had  ever  strictly  adhered,  and  of  which 
he  had  already  afforded  the  United  States  abundant 
evidence,  in  omitting  to  demand  of  them  "  the  trai- 
tors, insurgents,  incendiaries,  and  assassins  of  his 
chiefs,  namely,  Guiterres,  Toledo,  and  many  others, 
whom  the  American  government  protected  and 
maintained  in  committing  hostilities,  in  fomenting 
the  revolution,  and  in  lighting  up  the  flames  of  dis- 
cord in  the  internal  provinces  of  the  kingdom  of 
Mexico." 

To  ♦Jie  inquiry,  why  the  English  had  been  suffered 
to  land  in  his  province  arms  and  ammunition,  with  a 
view  to  encouraging  the  Indians  in  their  acts  of  hos- 
tility, he  proceeded  with  his  same  "  national  charac- 
teristic," and  demanded  to  be  infonned  if  the  United 
States  were  ignorant,  that,  at  the  conquest  of  Flor- 
ida, there  was  a  treaty  between  Great  Britain  and 
the  Creek  Indians,  and  whether  they  did  not  know, 
that  it  stUl  existed  between  Spain  and  those  tribes. 
"  But,"  continued  he,  "  turn  your  eyes  to  the  island 
of  Bar^ata^ia^  and  you  will  there  perceive  that, 
within  the  very  territory  of  the  United  States,  pi- 
rates are  sheltered,  with  the  manifest  design  of 
committing  hostilities  by  sea  upon  the  merchant 
vessels  of  Spain  ;  and  with  such  scandalous  notori- 
ety, that  the  cargoes  of  our  vessels,  taken  by  them, 
have  been  publicly  sold  in  Louisiana," 

It  is  dii&cult  to  discover  how,  or  by  what  system 
of  Icigic,  it  was,  that  Governor  Manrequez  was  ena- 
14  * 


162  LIFE  OF  GEXERAL  JACKSON 


1 


bled  to  trace  any  kind  of  analogy  between  the  : 
United  States  affording  to  a  few  of  the  patriots  of 
South  America  an  asylum  from  the  persecutions 
that  were  threatened  to  be  imposed  on  them  by 
Spanish  tyranny,  and  his  permitting,  within  the  lim- 
its of  Florida,  comfort,  aid,  and  assistance  to  be  I 
given  the  savages,  that  they  might  be  enabled  to  I 
inciulge  in  cruelty  towards  us.    Nor  can  it  be  per-  ! 
ceived  how  it  was,  tliat  the  piracies  of  Latite  and 
his  party,  at  Barrataria,  and  the  successful  smug- 
gling which  brought  their  plundered  wealth  into 
port,  in  open  defiance  of  our  laws,  could  operate  as  ; 
a  sufficient  pretext  for  giving  protection  to  in  ene- 
my entering  the  territory  of  Spain,  and  continuing 
there,  with  the  avowed  intention  of  waging  war 
against  a  power,  with  which  she  not  only  professed  | 
to  be  in  friendship,  but  was  bound  by  treaty  to  be  j 
so,  and  at  the  very  time,  too,  when  she  claimed  to  | 
be  neutral.    Nor  cin  wc  see  tlie  force  of  the  argu-  I 
ment,  because  I'jngland  had  a  treaty  with  the  Creek 
Indians,  which  afterwards  devolved  on  Spain,  that, 
the  agents  of  his  Catholic  majesty  were,  in  conse-^ 
quence,  justified  in  protecting  the  sav>iges  in  their  ' 
murders,  or  assisting  covertly,  as  they  did,  in  the  i 
war  against  us  :  how  the  conclusions  were  arrived  j 
at,  the  governor  can  decide  at  some  moment,  when,  j 
relieved  from  those  high  and  honourable  feelings  j 
"  peculiar  to  the  Spanish  character,"  Reason  mey 
re-assert  her  empire  over  him,  and  point  out  the 
manner  in  which  he  was  enabled  to  produce  his  j 
strange  results.  I 

The  governor,  however,  had  evinced  rather  too 
high  a  state  of  feeling,  and  taken  his  ground  with- 
out suffering  his  reflections  to  go  to  their  fuU  ex-  ! 
tent.    He  had  placed  arms  in  the  hands  of  the  sav  i 


tU'E  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON.  163 


cges  "  for  the  purposes  of  self-defence  ;"  many  of 
them  were  hastening  to  him  ;  more  were  yet  ex- 
pected. The  British  had  already  landed  a  partial 
force,  and  a  greater  one  was  shortly  looked  for. 
Against  this  expected  strength,  added  to  what  his 
own  resources  could  supply,  he  believed  an  Ameri- 

■HAXi  general  would  not  venture  to  advance.  These 
considerations  had  led  him  to  assume  a  lofty  tone ; 
to  arraign  the  conduct  of  the  United  States,  in  ex- 
tinguishing the  Indian  title  on  the  Alabama ;  to  ac- 
cuse them  of  violating  their  treaties,  and  to  point 
ont  the  danger  to  which  the  restoration  of  peace  in 
Europe  might  expose  them.  As  yet  he  was  ignorant 
of  the  energy  of  the  man  already  near  his  borders, 
and  who,  to  march  against  and  break  down  his  fan- 
cied security,  did  not  desire  to  be  ordered,  but  only 

.•to  be  apprized  by  his  country  that  it  might  be  done. 

.  Jackson,  in  no  wise  pleased  with  the  boldness  of  hia 
remarks,  proceeded  again  to  address  him,  and  exhib- 
ited fully  tlie  grounds  of  complaint  in  behalf  of  his 

.  country,  and  in  a  style  at  least  as  courtly  as  his  own. 

"Were  I  clothed,"  he  remarks, "  with  diplomatic 
powers,  for  the  purpose  of  discussing  the  topics  em- 
braced in  the  wide  range  of  injuries,  of  which  you 
complain,  and  which  have  long  since  been  adjusted, 
I  could  easily  demonstrate  that  the  United  States 
have  been  always  faithful  to  their  treaties,  steadfast 
in  their  friendships,  nor  have  ever  claimed  any  thing 
that  was  not  warranted  by  justice.  They  have  en 
cured  many  insults  from  the  governors  and  other 
officers  of  Spain,  which,  if  sanctioned  by  their  sove- 
reign, would  have  amounted  to  acts  of  hostility, 
without  any  previous  declaration  on  the  subject. 
They  have  excited  the  savages  to  war,  and  afford- 
ed them  the  means  of  waging  it :  the  property  of 


164  LIFE  OP  GENERAL  JACKSON- 


our  citizens  has  been  captured  at  sea,  and,  if  com 
pensation  has  not  been  refused,  it  has  at  least  been 
witJiheld.  But,  as  no  such  powers  have  been  dele- 
gated to  me,  I  shall  not  assume  them,  but  leave 
them  to  the  representatives  of  our  respective  gov- 
ernments. 

"  I  have  the  honour  of  being  intrusted  with  the 
command  of  this  district.  Charged  with  its  protec- 
tion, and  the  safety  of  its  citizens,  I  feel  my  ability 
to  discharge  the  task,  and  trust  your  excellency 
will  always  find  me  ready  and  willing  to  go  for- 
ward, in  the  performance  of  that  duty,  whenever 
circumstances  shall  render  it  necessary.  I  agree 
with  you,  perfecily,  that  candour  and  polite  lan- 
guage should,  at  all  times,  characterize  the  commu- 
nications between  the  officers  of  friendly  sovereign- 
ties ;  and  I  assert,  without  the  fear  of  contradiction, 
that  my  former  letters  were  couched  in  terms  the 
most  respectful  and  unexceptionable.  I  only  re- 
quested, and  did  not  demand,  as  you  have  assert- 
ed, that  the  ringleaders  of  the  Creek  confederacy 
night  be  delivered  to  me,  who  had  taken  refuge  in 
your  town,  and  who  had  violated  all  laws,  moral 
civil  and  divine.  This  I  had  a  right  to  do,  from  the 
treaty  which  I  sent  you,  and  which  I  now  again  en- 
close, with  a  request  that  you  will  change  your 
translation ;  believing,  as  I  do,  that  your  former 
one  v/as  wrong,  and  has  deceived  you.  What 
kind  of  an  answer  you  returned,  a  reference 
to  your  letter  will  explain.  The  whole  of  it  breath- 
ed nothing  but  hostility,  grounded  upon  assumed 
facts,  and  false  charges,  and  entirely  evading  the 
inquiries  that  had  been  made. 

"  I  can  but  express  my  astonishment  at  your  pro 
test  against  the  cession  on  the  Alabama,  lying 


UFE  OP  GENERAL  JACKSON.  185 

Within  the  acknowledged  limits  and  jurisdiction  of 
the  United  States,  and  which  has  been  ratified,  in 
due  form,  by  the  principal  chiefs  and  warriors  of 
the  nation.  But  my  astonishment  subsides,  when, 
on  comparison,  I  tiiid  it  upon  a  par  with  the  rest  of 
your  letter  and  conduct ;  taken  together,  they  af- 
ford a  sufficient  justification  for  any  course  on  my 
part,  or  consequences  that  may  ensue  to  yourself. 
My  government  will  protect  every  inch  of  her  terri- 
tory, her  citizens,  and  tlieir  property,  from  insult 
and  depredation,  regardless  of  the  political  revolu- 
tions of  Europe  ;  and,  although  she  has  been  at  all 
times  sedulous  to  preserve  a  good  understanding 
with  all  the  world,  yet  she  has  sacred  rights,  that 
cannot  be  trampled  upon  with  impunity.  Spain 
had  better  look  to  her  own  intestine  commotions, 
before  she  walks  forth  in  that  majesty  of  strength 
and  power,  which  you  threaten  to  draw  down  upon 
the  United  States. 

"  Your  excellency  has  been  candid  enough  to  ad- 
mit your  having  supplied  the  Indians  with  arms. 
In  addition  to  this,  I  have  learned  tliat  a  British 
flag  has  been  seen  flying  on  one  of  your  forts.  All 
this  is  done  whilst  you  are  pretending  to  be  neu- 
tral. You  cannot  be  surprised,  then,  but  on  the 
contrary  will  provide  a  fort  in  your  town  for  my 
soldiers  and  Indians,  should  I  take  it  in  my  head  to 
pay  you  a  visit. 

"  In  future  I  beg  you  to  withhold  your  insulting 
charges  against  my  governii:ent  for  one  more  in- 
clined to  listen  to  slander  than  I  am ;  nor  consider 
me  any  more  as  a  diplomatic  character,  unless  so 
proclaimed  to  you  from  the  mouths  of  my  cannon." 

Captain  Gordon,  who  had  been  despatched  to 
Peusacola,  had  been  enabled,  during  the  time  he 


166  LIFE  OP  GENERAL  MCKSON. 


remained  there,  to  obtain  much  more  satisfactory 
information  than  it  had  pleased  the  governor  to 
communicate.    Appearances  completely  developed  i 
the  schemes  which  were  in  agitation,  and  convinc-  < 
ed  him  that  active  operations  were  intended  to  be  ! 
commenced  somewhere  m  the  lower  country.  On 
his  return,  he  reported  to  the  general,  that  he  had  j 
seen  from  one  hundred  and  fifty  to  two  hundred  .! 
officers  and  soldiers,  a  park  of  artillery,  and  about  ] 
five  hundred  Indians,  under  the  drill  of  British  offi-  | 
cers,  armed  with  new  muskets,  and  dressed  in  the  ' 
English  uniform. 

Jackson  directly  brought  to  the  view  of  the  gov-  , 
ernment  the  information  he  had  received,  and  again  j 
urged  his  favourite  scheme,  the  reduction  of  Pen-  j 
sacola.  "  How  long,"  he  observed,  "  will  the  Unit- 
ed States  pocket  the  reproach  and  open  insults  of  ] 
Spain It  is  alone  by  a  manly  and  dignified  course,  ] 
that  we  can  secure  respect  from  other  nations,  and  1 
peace  to  our  own.  Temporizing  policy  is  not  only  | 
a  disgrace,  but  a  curse  to  any  nation.  It  is  a  fact  , 
that  a  British  captain  of  marines  is,  and  has  for 
some  time  past  been,  engaged  in  drilling  and  or-  ' 
ganizing  the  fugitive  Creeks,  under  the  eye  of  the  | 
governor  ;  endeavouring,  by  his  influence  and  pres-  ' 
ents,  to  draw  to  his  standard  as  well  the  peaceable  | 
as  the  hostile  Indians.  If  permission  had  been  ' 
given  me  to  march  against  this  place  twenty  days  ] 
ago,  I  would,  ere  this,  have  planted  there  the  Amer- 
ican Eagle  ;  now,  we  must  trust  alone  to  our  val-  j 
our,  and  to  the  justice  of  our  cause.  But  my  pres- 
ent resources  are  so  limited — a  sickly  climate,  as  ' 
well  as  an  enemy,  to  contend  with,  and  without  the  ; 
Boettns  of  transportation  to  change  the  position  of  | 


i 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON.  167  i 


my  army,  that,  resting  on  the  bravery  of  my  little  , 
phalanx,  I  can  only  hope  for  success." 

Many  difficulties  were  presented  ;  and,  although  ^ 
anxious  to  carry  into  execution  a  purpose  which 
seemed  so  strongly  warranted  by  necessity,  he  saw  ' 
that  he  was  wholly  without  the  power  of  moving,  | 
even  should  he  be  directed  to  do  so.    Acting  in  a  I 
remote  corner  of  the  Union,  which  was  thinly  inhab- 
ited, the  credit  of  his  government  w£is  inadequate 
to  procure  those  things  essential  to  his  operations  , 
while  the  poverty  of  his  quarter-master's  depart-  ' 
ment  presented  but  a  dreary  prospect  for  reliance. 
But,  to  have  all  things  in  a  state  of  readiness  for  ac- 
tion, when  the  time  should  arrive  to  authorize  it,  he 
was  directing  his  attention  in  the  way  most  likely  | 
to  effect  it.    The  warriors  of  the  different  tribes  of  j 
Indians  were  ordered  to  be  marshalled,  and  taken 
into  the  pay  of  the  government.     He  addressed 
himself  to  the  governors  of  Tennessee,  liOuisiana,  j 
and  the  Mississippi  territory,  and  pressed  them  to  | 
be  vigilant  in  tlie  discharge  of  their  duties.  Infor- 
mation, he  said,  had  reached  him,  which  rendered 
It  necessary  that  aU  the  forces  allotted  for  the  de 
fence  of  the  seventh  military  district,  should  be  j 
held  in  a  state  of  perfect  readiness,  to  march  at  any 
notice,  and  to  any  point  they  might  be  required.  ! 
"Dark  and  heavy  clouds  hover  around  us.    The  j 
energy  and  patriotism  of  the  citizens  of  your  states  j 
must  dispel  them.    Our  rights,  our  liberties,  and 
free  constitution,  are  threatened.    This  noble  pat-  | 
rimony  of  our  fathers  must  be  defended  with  the  ' 
best  blood  of  our  country :  to  do  this,  you  must  j 
hasten  to  carry  into  effect  the  requisition  of  the  j 
secretary  of  war,  and  call  forth  your  troops  without  ' 
deUy."  ! 


1 


168             LICE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON.  I 

i 

On  the  day  after  completing  Lis  business  at  Fort  I 
Jackson,  he  had  departed  for  Mobile,  to  place  the 

country  in  a  proper  state  of  defence.    The  third  j 

regiment,  a  part  of  the  forty-fourth  and  thirty-ninth,  | 

constituted,  entirely,  the  regular  forces  he  could  at  j 
this  time  command.    Many  reasons  concurred  to 
render  it  necessary  that  a  sufficient  force  should  be 

brought  into  the  field  as  early  as  possible.    His  ap-  i 
peals  to  the  people  of  Tennessee  had  been  generally 
crowned  with  success  ;  and  he  had  no  doubt  but 
that  he  might  yet  obtain  from  them  such  assistance  as 

would  enable  him,  should  any  unexpected  emergen-  | 

cy  arise,  to  act  at  least  defensively,  until  the  states  \ 

already  applied  to  should  have  their  quotas  ready  for  ! 

the  field.  On  the  citizens  of  Louisiana  and  Missis-  ' 
eijipi  he  believed  he  might  securely  rely,  and  that 

their  ardour  would  readily  excite  them  to  contend  | 
with  an  enemy  at  their  very  doors.    Well  knowing 

the  delay  incident  to  bringing  militia  requisitions  1 

expeditiously  forth,  and  fearing  that  some  circum-  I 

stance  might  arise  to  jeopardize  the  safety  of  the  | 
country,  before  the  constituted  authorities  could  act, 

he  had  already  despatched  his  adjutant-general,  ! 
Colonel  Butler,  to  Tennessee,  with  orders  to  raise- 
volunteers,  and  have  them  in  readiness  to  advance 

to  his  relief,  whenever  it  should  be  required.  1 

Every  day's  intelligence  tended  to  confirm  the  i 

belief  that  a  descent  would  be  made, — most  proba-  I 

bly  on  New  Orleans.    Anonymous  letters,  secretlj  , 

forwarded  from  Pensacola,  and  which  found  their  I 

way  into  the  American  camp,  suggested  tliis  as  the  i 

point  of  assault ;  and  many  of  the  settlers  were  ap-  ! 

prized  by  their  friends  of  the  fears  ente.-tained  for  j 

their  safety,  and  entreated  to  retire  from  the  gath-  J 

ering  storm,  which,  it  was  feared,  would  soon  burst,  i 


LIFE   or   GENERAL  JACKSOK.              169  j 

and  entirely  involve  the  lower  country  in  ruiiii  ' 
Where  certainly  to  expect  attack,  was  as  yet  UD-  ^ 
known.   The  part  of  the  country  bordering  on  Mo- 
bile might  be  assailed  ;  yet,  taking  into  considera- 
tion that  no  very  decided  advantages  could  be  ob-  i 
tained  there,  it  was  an  event  not  much  to  be  appre-  1 
bended.   The  necessity,  however,  of  being  prepar-  J 
ed  at  all  points,  oo  far  as  the  means  of  defence 
could  be  procured,  was  at  once  obvious  ;  for,  as  the 
general,  in  one  of  his  letters,  remarked,  "  there  ? 
was  no  telling  where  or  when  the  spoiler  might  j 
come."  j 
There  were  now  too  many  reasons  to  expect  an  | 
early  visit,  and  too  many  causes  to  apprehend  dan-  i 
ger,  not  to  desire  that  an  efficient  force  might  be  ' 
within  convenient  distance.    Colonel  Butler  was  ' 
accordingly  written  to,  and  ordered  to  hasten  for-  I 
ward,  with  the  volunteers  he  could  procure,  and  to  > 
join  him  without  delay.    The  order  reached  hira  ] 
at  Nashville,  on  the  9th  of  September,  and  he  forth-  ' 
with  engaged  actively  in  its  execution.    He  directly 
applied  to  General  Coffee,  to  advance  with  the  i 
mounted  troops  ne  could  collect.    A  general  order 
was  at  the  same  time  issued,  bringing  to  view  the 
dangers  that  threatened,  and  soliciting  those  who  ( 
were  disposed  to  aid  in  protecting  their  country  j 
from  invasion,  to  unite  with  him  at  Fayetteville,  by  ' 
the  28th  instant.    The  appeal  was  not  ineffectual ;  i 
although  the  scene  of  operation  was  at  least  four  I 
hundred  miles  from  the  point  of  rendezvous,  the  I 
call  was  promptly  obeyed  ;  and  two  thousand  able- 
bodied  men,  well  supplied  with  rifles  and  muskets,  i 
appeared  at  the  appointed  time  to  march  with  the  ; 
brave  General  Coffee,  who  had  so  often  led  his 
trgops  to  victory  and  honour.   Colonel  Butler,  with  \ 
15 


i 


ITO  LIFE  OF  GENKHAL  JACKSON. 


hia  usual  industry,  hastened  to  press  forward  the 
militia,  under  the  command  of  Colonel  Lowery 
which  had  been  heretofore  required  for  garrisoning  : 
the  posts  in  the  Indian  country  ;  whilst  Captains  , 
Baker  and  Butler,  with  the  regular  forces  lately  en-  \ 
listed,  advanced  from  Nashville  to  Mobile,  where  ! 
they  arrived  in  fourteen  days.  By  proper  exertions  ! 
every  thing  was  presently  in  complete  readiness :  | 
and  the  troops  collected  for  the  campaign,  in  high  | 
spirits,  set  out  for  the  point  to  which  danger,  duty,  I 
and  their  country  called  them.  \ 


i 


i 


i 


UFB  OP  QBNERAL  JACKSON.  171 


CHAPTER  VTI. 

Colfiml  Nich/iUs  orrnw  at  Paaacola,  and  issues  a  proclamation  to 
the  loutherji  inhabitatds. — Attack  on  Fort  Botcyer,  and  lost  of 

the  Hermes  Jackson  determinesto  reduce  Pensacola. — Demands 

of  the  goverttor  m  explanatum  of  his  conduct ;  his  annoer  — 
Enters  and  takes  possession  of  Pensacola. — Conduct  arid  perfidy 
of  the  goremor.  Destruction,  by  the  British,  of  Barrancas 
Fort. — Our  troops  return  to  Mobile. — Expedition  against  the 
Indians. — Genenii  Winchester  arrives,  and  Jackson  proceeds  to 
take  command  of  New  Orleans. 

Whether  a  fbrce  were  thus  concentrating  to  act 
defensively  against  an  invading  enemy,  or  were  in- 
tended to  reduce  the  rallying  point  of  the  Indians 
and  British  in  the  Spanish  territory,  whence  they 
had  it  in  their  power  to  make  sudden  inroads  on 
any  part  of  our  coast,  as  yet  all  was  conjecture. 
It  was  a  trait  in  Jackson's  character  to  lock  closely 
in  his  bosom  all  his  determinations  :  it  was  only  to 
a  few,  on  whom  he  reposed  with  unlimited  confi- 
dence, that  the  least  intimation  was  at  any  time  giv- 
en of  his  intentions.  The  idea  could  scarcely  be 
entertained,  that,  at  this  time,  any  hostility  was 
meditated  against  Pensacola. 

It  was  impossible  he  should  remain  long  in  doubt, 
as  to  the  course  best  calculated  to  assure  defence, 
or  to  the  ulterior  objects  of  the  enemy.  Colonel 
Nicholls,  with  a  small  squadron  of  his  Britannic 
majesty's  ships,  had  arrived  the  latter  part  of  Au- 
gust, and  taken  up  his  head-quarters  with  Governor 
Manrequez.  He  was  an  Irishman,  sent  in  advance 
»y  his  royal  master  to  sow  dissensions  among  our 
people,  and  to  draw  around  his  standard  the  male- 


172  LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON. 


contents  and  traitors  of  the  country.  His  proclama 
tion,  issued  to  the  western  and  southern  inhabitants, 
full  of  well-turned  periods,  false  statements  and 
high-sounding  promises,  it  was  hoped,  would  lead 
them  to  a  belief,  that  the  government  under  which 
they  lived  was  forging  for  them  chains  ;  that  it  had 
declared  war  against  a  power,  the  freest,  the  hap- 
piest, the  most  moral  and  religious  on  earth.  He 
elated,  that  he  was  at  the  head  of  a  force  amply  suf- 
ficient to  reinstate  them  in  those  liberties  and  en- 
joyments, of  which  they  had  been  bereaved,  by  the 
designs  of  "a  contemptible  few."  That  such  as 
were  disposed  to  imbrue  their  hands  in  the  blood 
of  their  countrymen,  might  not  quietly  rest,  doubt- 
ing of  the  assurances  proEFered  them,  he  concluded 
by  tendering,  as  security  for  all  he  had  said  and 
promised,  "  the  sacred  honour  of  a  British  officer." 
Perhaps  he  could  have  vouchsafed  nothing  that  the 
American  people  would  not  have  sooner  relied  on : 
it  was  a  pledge,  in  which  past  experience  told  them 
they  could  not  in  safety  confide.  To  them  it  was 
a  matter  of  surprise,  that  a  country,  from  which 
they  had  learned  all  they  had  ever  known  or  felt  of 
oppression,  should  come  to  make  them  freer  than 
they  were  ;  or  that,  groaning  themselves  under  a 
load  of  taxes,  from  which  there  was  scarcely  a  hope 
of  being  ever  relieved,  they  should  come,  with  such 
apparent  compassion,  and  great  benfwolence,  to 
take  away  the  burdens  of  those  whom  they  despis- 
ed, and  on  whom,  for  forty  years,  they  had  heaped 
nothing  but  reproach. 

He  had  waited  about  two  weeks,  that  his  proc 
lamation  might  take  effectual  hold,  anJ  prepare  the 
inhabitants  to  open  their  bosoms  to  receive  him, 
when  this  delivering  hero  aided  by  his  Indian  and 


UFB  OP  CENERAL  1ACK80N.  173 


Spanish  allii>8,  set  out  to  ascertain  the  effect  it  had 
wrought  His  first  visit  was  to  Fort  Bowyer,  sit- 
uated on  the  extreme  end  of  a  narrow  neck  of  land, 
about  eighteen  mUes  below  the  head  of  Mobile  Bay, 
the  entrance  of  which  it  commanded.  With  the  loss  ot 
one  of  his  ships  and  an  eye,  he  had  the  mortification 
to  learn,  that  he  had  been  addressing  an  incorrigi 
ble  race,  who  could  be  neither  duped,  flattered,  noi 
forced  into  submission. 

Fort  Bowyer  had  been  heretofore  abandoned : 
and,  until  the  arrival  of  General  Jackson  in  this  sec- 
tion of  the  country,  was  indeed  iU  calculated  for 
BCrious  resistance.  On  perceiving  its  importance, 
he  immediately  caused  it  to  be  placed  in  the  best 
possible  state  of  defence.  So  effectual  was  its  sit- 
bation  in  a  military  point  of  view,  commanding  the 
passes  of  those  rivers  which  discharged  themselves 
into  the  bay,  that  it  was  with  him  a  matter  of  sur- 
prise it  had  not  been  more  regarded  by  the  United 
States,  and  even  better  attended  to  by  our  enemies. 

Major  Lawrence  had  the  honour  to  command  this 
spot,  the  gallant  defence  of  which  has  given  it  ce- 
lebrity, and  raised  him  to  an  elevated  stand  in  the 
estimation  of  his  country.  That  at  Pensacola  plans 
of  operation  were  digesting,  which  had  for  their 
object  an  invasion  of  our  coast  somewhere,  wtis  a  fact 
to  which  Lawrence  was  not  a  stranger.  A  dispo- 
sition to  have  his  little  fortress  in  such  a  state  of 
readiness,  as  would  place  it  in  his  power,  should 
(hat  be  their  object,  to  make  a  brave  defence,  had 
prompted  him  to  the  most  vigorous  exertions.  His 
whole  strength  was  but  one  hundred  and  thirty 
men.  By  this  Spartan  band  was  evinced  a  confi- 
dence in  each  other,  and  an  unshaken  resolution, 
which  left  their  brave  commander  no  room  to  ap- 
15* 


174  LIFE  OF  OENERAL  JACKSON. 

prehend  dishonour  to  his  &a.g,  even  should  defeat  ' 

result  I 

The  12th  of  September  determined  all  doubt  of  j 
the  object  which  tlie  British  had  in  view.  The  sen 

tincls  brought  intelligence  thut  a  considerable  force.  ' 

consisting  of  Indians,  marines,  and  Spaniards,  had  j 

landed  ;  and  the  same  day  two  brigs  and  sloops  i 
hove  in  sight  of  the  fort,  and  anchored. 

The  next  day  a  demonstration  v/as  made,  by  those  ■ 
who  had  been  landed,  to  bring  on  the  attack  ;  but 
a  fire  from  the  fort  forced  them  from  their  position, 
and  compelled  them  to  retire  about  two  miles 
whence,  attempting  to  throw  up  fortifications,  they 
were  again  made  to  retreat. 

Early  on  the  morning  of  the  15th,  the  signals, 
passing  from  the  ships  to  the  shore,  led  Lawrence 
to  believe  an  assault  was  intended,  and  would  short- 
ly be  made.  At  half  after  four  o'clock  in  the  even-  ; 
ing,  every  thing  being  arranged,  the  Hermes,  in  i 
the  van,  commanded  by  Sir  W.  H.  Percy,  and  the  I 
other  vessels  close  in  the  rear,  anchored  within  j 
musket-shot  fire  of  the  fort.  From  her  near  posi-  , 
tion,  supported  by  the  Carron,  and  brigs  Sophia  and  i 
Anaconda,  mounting  in  all  ninety  guns,  she  open-  | 
ed  a  broadside.  Colonel  Nicholls  and  Captain  ' 
Woodbine,  at  the  head  of  their  detachment,  com-  ; 
menccd  a  simultaneous  attack  by  land,  with  a  | 
twelve  pound  howitzer,  at  point  blank  distance ;  but  : 
from  their  sand  bank  fortifications  they  were  so  ] 
quickly  driven  as  to  be  unable  to  produce  tlie  slight  i 
est  injury. 

The  action  raged  with  considerable  violence  , 

From  the  fort  and  ships  was  pouring  a  continual  fire  ' 

The  Hermes,  having,  at  length,  received  a  shot  ( 

tbrou£^b  her  cab]e,was  drivenfrom  her  anchorage,  and  ! 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON-  175 


floated  with  the  stream.  In  this  situation  she  was 
thrown  into  a  position,  where,  for  twenty  minutes, 
she  received  a  severely  raking  fire,  which  did  hei 
considerable  damage.  In  her  disabled  condition, 
it  was  no  longer  possible  to  control  her,  whence, 
drifting  with  the  current,  she  ran  upon  a  saLd  bank 
about  seven  hundred  yards  distant,  where,  until  late 
at  night,  she  remained  exposed  to  the  guns  of  the 
fort.  Her  commander,  finding  it  impracticable  to 
be  relieved,  set  her  on  fire,  and  abandoned  her. 
She  continued  burning  until  eleven  o'clock,  when 
she  blew  up.  The  Carron,  next  in  advance  to  the 
Hermes,  was  considerably  injured,  and  with  diffi- 
culty went  out  to  sea. 

It  may  be  worth  w  hile,  to  show  the  difference  in 
battle  between  the  two  combatants,  to  mark  the 
conduct  of  British  and  American  officers,  under  cir 
cumstances  precisely  similar.  Whilst  the  battle 
raged,  the  flag  of  the  van  ship  was  carried  away, 
and  at  this  moment  she  had  ceased  to  fire.  What 
had  caused  its  disappearance  none  could  tell :  no 
other  opinion  was,  or  could  with  propriety  be  en- 
tertained, than  that  it  had  been  hauled  down,  with 
a  view  to  yield  the  contest,  and  surrender.  Influ- 
enced by  this  belief,  Lawrence,  with  a  generosity 
characteristic  of  our  officers,  immediately  desisted 
from  further  firing.  The  appearance  of  a  new  flag, 
and  a  broadside  fi-om  the  ship  next  the  Hermes,  was 
the  first  intelligence  received  that  such  was  not  the 
fact  and  the  contest  again  raged  with  renewed 
violence.  It  was  but  a  few  nunutes,  however,  before 
the  flag-staff  of  the  fort  was  also  carried  away ;  but, 
BO  far  from  pursuing  the  same  generous  course  that 
had  just  been  witnessed,  the  zeal  of  the  enemy  waa 
increased,  and  tiie  assault  more  furiously  urgo4* 


176  LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON. 


At  this  moment,  Nicholls  and  Woodbine,  at  the  head 
of  their  embattled  train,  perceiving  what  had  hap- 
pened,— that  our  "  star-spangled  banner"  had  sunk, 
— at  once  presuming  all  danger  to  have  subsided, 
made  a  most  courageous  sally  from  their  strong 
hold ;  and,  pushing  towards  their  vanquished  foes, 
were  already  calculating  on  a  rich  harvest  of  plun- 
der: but  a  well-directed  fire  checked  their  pro- 
gress, dissipated  their  expectations,  and  drove  them 
back,  with  a  rapidity  even  surpassing  the  celerity 
of  their  advance. 

From  the  bay,  the  attack  was  waged  with  a  force 
of  six  hundred  men,  and  ninety  guns,  of  larger  cal- 
iber than  any  opposed  to  them  ;  whilst  upwards  of 
four  hundred  Indians  and  other  troops  were  on  the 
shore,  in  rear  of  tlie  fort.  Lawrence's  strength  was 
scarcely  a  tenth  of  the  enemy's.  His  fort,  hastily 
prepared  for  defence,  with  not  more  than  twenty 
guns,  was  ill  calculated  for  stubborn  resistance : 
most  of  these  were  of  small  caliber,  whilst  many, 
■from  being  badly  mounted,  were  capable  of  render- 
ing no  essential  service  in  the  action  :  yet,  with 
this  great  inequality,  he  well  maintained  the  honour 
of  his  flag,  and  compelled  the  enemy,  resting  in  fall 
confidence  of  success,  to  retire,  with  the  loss  of 
their  best  ship,  and  two  hundred  and  thirty  men 
killed  and  wounded  ;  whilst  the  loss  sustained  by 
the  Americans  did  not  exceed  ten. 

Very  different  were  the  feelings  of  the  leaders 
■of  this  expedition,  from  what  had  been  entertained 
•on  setting  out  from  Pensacola,  where  every  thing 
■had  been  prepared  for  giving  success  to  their  plans, 
tind  where  scarcely  a  doubt  was  entertained  of  the 
result  Numerous  benefits  were  expected  to  arise 
from  a  victory,  not  in  expectancy,  but  already  looked 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACK80M.  177  ' 

to  as  certain — as  an  event  that  could  not  faiL  From  | 
it,  greater  facility  would  be  given  to  their  opera- 
tions ;  while  Mobile,  it  was  expected,  would  fall,  of  I 
course.    This  being  effected,  independent  of  the 
strong  hold  already  possessed  in  Florida,  an  addi-  ^ 
tional  advantage  would  be  acquired,  calculated  tc  i 
prevent  all  intercourse  with  New  Orleans  from  this  i 
section  of  the  country,  enable  them  more  easily  tc 
procure  supplies,  and,  having  obtained  their  expect- 
ed re-enforcements,  piloted  and  aided  by  the  Indians 
to  proceed  across  to  the  Mississippi,  and  cut  off  all 
communication  with  the  western  states.  To  rendei  j 
the  blow  effectual  was  important ;  that,  by  impress 
ing  at  once  the  inhabitants  with  an  idea  of  theL  j 
prowess,  the  proclamations  already  disseminatec' 
might  claim  a  stronger  influence  on   doubting  ' 
minds.    The  force  employed  was  calculated  to  at  , 
tain  these  wished-for  results.     While  the  attack  j 
should  be  furiously  waged  by  the  ships  from  the  bay  j 
and  the  forces  on  the  shore,  the  yells  of  three  or  i 
four  hundred  savages  in  the  rear,  it  was  calculated, 
would  strike  the  defenders  of  thLs  fort  with  such  i 
panic,  as  to  make  them,  at  the  first  onset,  throw  ' 
down  their  arms,  and  clamour  for  mercy.   This  be- 
lief was  so  sanguinely  indulged,  that  obstinate  re-  i 
sistance  had  never  been  thought  of.    Different  was  J 
the  reality — instead  of  triumph,  they  had  met  de- 
feat.   The  only  badges  of  victory  they  could  pre-  \ 
sent  their  friends,  with  whom,  but  a  few  days  before,  ^ 
with  flattering  promises  they  had  parted,  were  shat- 
tered hulks,  that  could  scarcely  keep  above  the  I 
water,  and  decks  covered  with  the   dead   and  | 
wounded. 

The  three  vessels  that  retired  from  the  coutes*  j 
were  considerably  injured,  and  with  difficult  pra  , 


1 


178  LIFE    OF   GENERAL  JACKSON. 

ceeded  to  sea,  leaving  NichoUs  and  Woodbine,  | 
with  their  friends  and  allifis,  on  the  shore,  to  make  { 
good  their  retreat,  as  discretion  should  permit.  , 
On  the  morning  of  the  I'lth,  Jackson,  fearing,  1 
from  every  thing  he  had  learned,  that  an  attack  j 
would  be  made,  had  set  out  in  a  boat  from  Mobile,  j 
to  visit  Fort  Bowyer,  examine  its  situation,  and  ' 
have  such  arrangements  made  as  would  add  to  its  ! 
strength,  and  obtain  that  security  which  its  re-estab-  1 
lishment  had  been  designed  to  effect.    He  had  pro-  i 
ceeded  down  the  bay,  and  arrived  within  a  few  j 
miles  of  the  place,  when  he  met  an  express  from  ; 
Lawrence,  bringing  intelligence  of  the  enemy's  ar-  ' 
rival,  and  requesting  that  assistance  might  be  im- 
mediately sent  to  his  relief.  The  general,  hastening 
back,  late  at  night,  despatched  a  brig,  with  eighty 
men,  under  the  command  of  Captain  Laval.    Not  | 
being  able  to  reach  his  point  of  destination  until  the  i 
next  day,  and  finding  every  place  of  entrance  block-  ] 
ed  up  by  the  besiegers,  he  ran  his  brig  to  the  land,  \ 
determined  to  remain  there  until  night,  when,  under 
cover  of  its  darkness,  he  hoped  to  succeed  in  throw-  j 
ing  into  the  fort  liimself  and  the  re-enforcement  un-  j 
der  his  command.    The  battle,  however,  having  in  | 
the  mean  time  commenced,  presented  new  difficul-  j 
ties,  and  restrained  the  execution  of  his  purpose,  ; 
unless  lie  should  venture  to  encounter  greater  haz-  j 
ard  than  prudence  seemed  to  sanction.    The  Her- 
mes, on  being  driven  from  her  anchorage,  had, 
at  the  time  of  her  explosion,  floated  and  grounded  j 
in  a  direction,  which,  from  the  position  she  occupied,  j 
placed  her  immediately  in  the  rear  of  the  fort.  I 
This  circumstance  well  accounted  for  the  mistake  I 
with  which  he  was  impressed,  and  led  Captain  La- 
■val  to  suppose  that  his  brave  countrymen  had  all 


UFB  OF  OBNERAL  JACKSON. 


perished.  Believing  tliey  would  now  attempt  to 
cany  his  vessel,  he  set  saU  for  Mobile,  and  report 
ed  to  the  commanding  general  the  loss.  Jackson 
declared  it  was  impossible  ;  that  he  had  heard  the 
explosion,  and  was  convinced  it  was  on  the  water, 
and  not  on  the  shore.  Perhaps  his  great  anxiety, 
more  than  any  reality,  had  constituted  this  refined 
difference  in  sound.  If,  however,  the  disasters  were 
as  it  was  reported,  his  own  situation  being  thereby 
rendered  precarious,  something  was  necessary  to 
be  done  to  repair  the  loss,  and  regain  a  place  for 
many  reasons  too  important  to  be  yielded.  His 
principal  fears  were,  lest  the  strength  of  the  enemy 
should  be  greatly  increased,  before  his  expected 
re-enforcements  could  arrive,  who  would  be  enabled 
to  extend  his  inroads,  and  pciralyze  the  zeal  of  the 
country.  It  was  not  a  time  for  much  deliberation 
as  to  the  course  most  advisable  to  be  pursued.  He 
determined,  at  all  hazard,  to  retake  the  fort ;  and 
to  that  end  a  general  order  was  issued  for  the  de- 
parture of  the  troops.  Every  thing  was  nearly  in 
readiness,  when  a  despatch  arrived  from  Lawrence, 
proclaiming  the  pleeising  intelligence,  that  all  was 
safe,  and  that  the  enemy,  vanquished,  had  retired. 

The  conduct  displayed  by  the  oflScers  and  soldiers 
of  this  garrison  is  worthy  to  be  remembered.  With 
troops  whoUy  undisciplined,  and  against  an  enemy 
ten  times  more  numerous  than  themselves,  so  fear- 
lessly contending,  is  a  circumstance  so  flattering, 
that  we  cannot  wish  our  country  better,  than  that 
the  future  defenders  of  her  honour,  and  violated 
rights,  may  be  as  sensibly  alive  to  their  duty. 

The  British  had  now  retired  to  Pensacola,  to  dis- 
pose of  their  wounded,  refit  their  vessels,  and  be 
ready,  aa  soon  as  ciicuiustauces  would  permit,  t* 


180  LIFE   or   GE.NEKAL  JACKSC-R. 

make,  perhaps,  anotlier  descent,  on  sorne  less  guard- 
ed point.  So  long  as  this,  their  only  place  of  refuge 
on  the  southern  coast,  was  left  in  their  possession, 
it  was  impossible  to  calculate  on  the  consequences 
that  might  arise.  The  commanding  general  enter- 
tained a  suspicion  that  this  was  merely  a  feint,  and 
that  the  object  of  their  wishes,  so  soon  as  a  suffi- 
cient force  should  arrive,  would  be  New  Orleans. 
At  this  place  he  believed  his  presence  most  mate- 
rial, to  guard  the  important  passes  to  the  city,  and 
to  concert  some  plan  of  general  defence. 

Jackson  and  his  government  had  ever  viewed 
this  subject  in  very  different  lights :  they  were  not 
willing  to  risk  any  act  which  might  involve  the  pos- 
sibility of  a  contest  with  Spain,  for  the  sake  of  re- 
moving what  they  considered  an  unimportant  griev- 
ance :  he  thought  it  of  more  serious  import,  and 
did  not  believe  it  could  afford  even  a  pretext  for 
rupture  between  the  two  nations.  If  Spain,  through 
her  agents,  gave  assistance  to  our  enemy,  or  en- 
couraged a  power  with  whom  she  was  at  peace  ta 
be  thus  annoyed,  she  deserved  to  be  placed  herself 
on  the  list  of  enemies,  and  treated  accordingly.  If, 
however.  Great  Britain,  taking  advantage  of  the 
defenceless  state  of  her  province,  claimed  to  have 
free  egress,  in  exclusion  of  her  authority,  she  could 
have  no  well-founded  cause  of  complaint  against 
the  injured  power,  which  should  claim  to  hold  it, 
until  such  time  as,  by  bringing  a  sufiScient  force, 
she  might  be  in  a  situation  to  support  her  neutral 
ity,  and  enforce  obedience.  Upon  either  ground, 
he  believed  it  might  be  sufficiently  justified.  There 
was  one,  however,  on  which  it  could  be  placed, 
where  he  well  knew  nothing  could  result,  beyond 
bw«wn.injury ;  and  on  this  issue  he  was  willing  to 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON.  181 


trust  it.  If  any  complaint  should  be  made,  his  gov 
ernment,  having  never  extended  to  him  any  author 
ity,  might,  with  propriety,  disavow  the  act ;  and, 
by  exposing  him  to  punishment,  would  offer  an 
atonement  for  the  outrage ;  and  Spain,  in  justice, 
could  demand  no  more.  The  attack  on  Mobile 
Point  was  a  confirmation  of  his  previous  conjectures, 
as  to  the  views  of  the  enemy  ;  and  from  that  mo- 
ment he  determined  to  advance  and  reduce  Pensa 
cola,  throw  a  sufficient  force  into  the  Barrancas, 
hold  them  until  the  principles  of  right  and  neutral- 
ity were  better  respected,  and  rest  the  measure  on 
his  own  responsibility.  Believing  this  the  only 
course  calculated  to  assure  ultimate  security,  he 
oecided  with  firmness,  and  resolved  to  execute  his 
inten'iions  so  soon  as  General  Cofifee  should  arrive, 
with  the  volunteers,  from  Tennessee. 

It  was  now  generally  accredited,  that  a  very 
considerable  force  would  shortly  sail  from  England, 
destined  to  act  against  some  part  of  the  United 
States ;  where,  none  could  tell ;  rumour  fixed  its 
destination  for  New  Orleans.  The  importance  of 
this  place  was  well  known  to  our  enemy ;  it  was 
the  key  to  the  entire  commerce  of  the  western 
country.  Had  a  descent  been  made  a  few  months 
before,  it  might  have  been  taken  with  all  imagina- 
ble ease  ;  but  the  British  had  indulged  the  belief, 
that  they  could  possess  it  at  any  time,  without  dif- 
ficulty. England  and  France  having  ended  their 
long-pending  controversy,  it  was  presumed  that 
the  French  people  of  Louisiana,  alive  to  the  great 
benefits  the  English  had  conferred  upon  their  na- 
tive country. — benefits  that  prostrated  her  liberty, 
and  which  have  sunk  her,  perhaps,  in  eternal  sla- 
very,— would,  on  their  firat  appearance,  hail  their  do 
16 


\ 

182  LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACRSON. 


liverers,  and  become  their  vassals.    Independciitof  j 
this,  they  imagined  the  black  population  would  af 
ford  them  the  means  of  exciting  insurrection,  and  i 
deluging  the  country  in  blood.    Whether  a  resort  . 
to  this  kind  of  warfare,  which  involves  tlie  deepest 
wretchedness,  and  equally  exposes  to  ruin  the  in-  1 
nocent  as  the  guilty, — the  female  as  the  soldier, —  , 
should  be  sanctioned  by  a  nation  professing  a  high  I 
sense  of  moral  feeling ;  or  whether  a  nation  that  [ 
adopts  such  a  system  merits  countenance  from  the  , 
civilized  world,  are  questions  on  which  we  should 
not  fear  the  decision  even  of  an  Englishman,  could 
he  but  divest  himself  of  that  animosity  which,  from  i 
infancy,  he  learns  to  entertain  for  the  Americans.  ; 

The  expected  re-enforcements  were  announced.  ^ 
General  Coffee  with  his  brigade  had  arrived  at  the  i 
Cut-off,  no''  far  from  Fort  St.  Stephens,  on  the  Mo-  j 
bUe  river.  In  addition  to  the  force  with  which  he  ] 
commenced  his  march,  he  had  been  strengthened 
by  the  arrival  of  others,  who  had  overtaken  him  at 
this  place  ;  so  that  his  whole  number  was  now  about 
twenty-eight  hundred.  To  make  the  necessary  ar-  \ 
rangements  for  an  immediate  march,  General  Jack-  ] 
«on,  on  the  26th  day  of  October,  repaired  to  Coffee's  ■ 
camp.  A  dependence  on  himself  to  further  the  | 
objects  of  the  government,  and  the  cause  of  the  , 
country,  had  been  his  constant  lot  from  the  com-  ; 
mencement  of  his  military  career ;  and  a  similar  j 
resort,  or  failure  to  the  enterprise,  was  now  to  be 
assayed.  Money  was  wanted — the  quarter-masters  ' 
were  destitute  of  funds,  and  the  government  credit  i 
was  insufficient  to  procure  the  necessary  means  to  | 
change  the  position  of  an  army :  thus  situated,  ; 
with  his  own  limited  funds,  and  loans  effected  on  , 
kia  responsibility,  he  succeeded  in  carrying  bis  | 


I 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON.  183 

plans  into  efiect,  and  in  hastening  his  army  to  the 
place  of  its  destination. 

The  difficulty  of  subsisting  cavalry  on  the  route 
rendered  it  necessary  that  part  of  the  brigade 
should  proceed  on  foot.  Although  they  had  volun- 
teered in  the  ser^ce  as  mounted  men,  and  expected 
that  no  different  disposition  would  be  made  of  them, 
yet  they  cheerfiilly  acquiesced  in  the  order ;  and 
one  thousand,  abandoning  their  horses  to  subsist  as 
they  could  on  the  reeds  that  grew  along  the  river 
bottoms,  prepared  to  commence  the  march.  Being 
supplied  with  rations  for  the  trip,  on  the  2d  day 
of  November  the  line  of  march  was  taken  up,  and 
Pensacola  was  reached  on  the  6th.  The  British 
and  Spaniards  had  obtained  intelligence  of  their 
approach  and  intended  attack  ;  and  every  thing 
was  in  readiness  to  dispute  their  passage  to  the 
town.  The  forts  were  garrisoned,  and  prepared 
for  resistance ;  batteries  formed  in  the  prmcipal 
streets ;  and  the  British  vessels  moored  withm  the 
bay,  and  so  disposed  as  to  command  the  main  en- 
trances which  led  into  Pensacola. 

The  American  army,  consisting  of  the  greater 
part  of  Coffee's  brigade,  the  regulars,  and  a  few 
Indians,  in  all  about  three  thousand  men,  had  ar- 
rived within  a  mUe  and  a  half  of  this  rallying  point 
for  our  enemies,  and  formed  their  encampment. 
Before  any  final  step  was  taken,  the  general  con- 
cluded to  make  a  further  application  to  the  gov- 
ernor, and  to  learn  of  him  what  course  at  the 
present  moment  he  would  make  it  necessary  for 
him  to  pursue.  To  take  possession  of  Pensacola, 
and  dislodge  the  British,  was  indispensable  :  to  do 
it  under  such  circumstances,  however,  as  should 
impress  the  minds  of  the  Spaniards  with  a  convic- 


184 


UFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON. 


1 


tion,  that  the  invasion  of  their  territory  waa  a  ] 
measuie  resorted  to  from  necessity,  not  choice, 
and  from  no  disposition  to  violate  their  neutral 
rights,  was  believed  to  be  essential.    It  was  ren- 
dered the  more  so,  on  the  part  of  Jackson,  because 
a  measure  of  his  own,  and  not  directed  by  his  gov- 
ernment   Previously,  he  determined  once  more  to  , 
try  the  effect  of  negotiation,  that  he  might  ascertain  j 
correctly  how  far  the  governor  felt  disposed  to  i 
preserve  a  good  understanding  between  the  two 
governments. 

Major  Piere,  of  the  forty-fourth  regiment,  was  i 
accordingly  despatched  with  a  flag,  to  disclose  the  ' 
objects  intended  to  be  attained  by  the  visit,  and  to 
require  that  the  different  forts,  Barrancas,  St.  Rose, 
and  St.  Michael,  should  be  immediately  surren- 
dered, to  be  garrisoned  by  the  United  States,  until  | 
Spain,  by  furnishing  a  sufficient  force,  nught  be  j 
able  to  protect  the  province,  and  preserve  unim-  j 
paired  her  neutral  character.    He  was  charged  by 
the  general  with  a  candid  statement  of  his  views.  ■ 
and  instructed  to  require  of  the  governor  a  deci- 
sive declaration  of  the  course  intended. 

This  mission  experienced  no  very  favourable  re- 
sult.   Major  Piere,  on  approaching  St.  Michael's, 
was  fired  on.  and  compelled  to  return.  Whether 
this  were  done  by  the  Spaniards  themselves,  or  by 
their  allies  and  frienJs,  was  not  a  material  inquiry  ' 
The  Spanish  flag  was  displayed  on  the  fort,  and  ', 
under  it  the  outrage  was  committed  ;  though  it  was  I 
a  fact  well  ascertained,  that,  until  the  day  before,  I 
the  British  flag  had  been  also  associated  :  this,  on 
the  arrival  of  Jackson,  had  been  removed,  and  the  1 
colours  of  Spain  left,  which  were  designed  to  afford  j 
protection  to  onr  enemies,  and  a  pretext  for  every  ] 


J 


JLIFE    OF   GENERAL   JACKSON.  ISf 

iajury  This  conduct,  so  unprovoked,  and  so  di- 
rectly in  opposition  to  the  principles  of  civilized 
warfare,  might  have  well  determined  the  general 
to  abstain  from  further  forbearance,  and  to  proceed 
immediately  to  the  accomplishment  of  his  views 
but  a  consciousness,  that  although  the  reduction  of 
this  place  was  required  by  circumstances  of  the 
highest  necessity,  yet,  fearing  it  might  be  blazoned 
to  his  prejudice,  and  particularly  that  it  might  be- 
come a  cause  of  national  difficulty,  he  was  prompted 
to  act  with  every  possible  caution.  Determining, 
therefore,  to  understand  the  governor  fully,  previous- 
ly to  proceeding  to  extremities,  he  again  despatched 
a  letter  to  him,  not  by  any  of  his  officers, — for,  after 
such  perfidy,  he  was  unwilling,  and  felt  it  unsafe,  to 
risk  them, — but  by  a  Spanish  corporal,  who  had  been 
taken  on  the  route  the  day  before.  By  him  it  was 
required  to  be  known,  why  the  former  application 
which  had  been  made,  instead  of  being  met  vvith  a 
becoming  spirit  of  conciliation,  had  been  insulted. 
In  answer,  he  received  from  the  governor  a  confir 
raatiun  of  the  opinion  he  had  previously  entertained, 
that  what  had  been  done  was  not  properly  chargea- 
ble on  him,  but  the  English ;  that  he  had  no  agency 
in  the  transaction  of  which  he  complained,  and 
assured  him  of  his  perfect  wUlingness  to  receive 
any  overtures  he  might  be  pleased  to  make.  This 
was  joyful  tidings  ;  and  no  time  was  to  be  lost  in 
meeting  the  offer.  If  negotiation  should  place  in 
his  hands  the  different  fortresses,  before  informa- 
tion of  it  could  be  had  by  the  British  shipping 
lying  in  the  bay,  the  outward  channel  would  be 
effectually  stopped,  and  the  means  of  their  escape 
entirely  cut  off.  Major  Piere  was  sent  off,  at  a 
late  hour  of  the  night,  to  detail  to  the  governor  the 
16* 


186  LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON. 


reasons  which  had  rendered  the  present  descent 
proper ;  and  to  insist  on  the  conditions  already 
noticed,  as  alone  calculated  to  assure  safety  to  the 
United  States,  and  give  protection  to  the  provinces 
of  Florida.  He  was  particularly  instructed  to  im- 
press on  his  consideration  the  most  friendly  senti- 
ments, and  to  assure  him  that  a  re-surrender  would 
be  made  so  soon  as  Spain,  by  the  arrival  of  a  suf- 
ficient force,  could  protect  her  territory  from  the 
inroads  of  a  power  at  war  with  the  United  States ; 
and  which,  through  an  opening  thus  afforded  to  a 
violation  of  the  neutrality  of  Spain,  was  enabled* 
and  had  already  done  her  considerable  injury.  In 
his  communication  to  the  governor,  he  remarks,  "  1 
come  not  as  the  enemy  of  Spain ;  not  to  make  war, 
but  to  ask  for  peace ;  to  demand  security  for  my 
country,  smd  that  respect  to  which  she  is  entitled, 
and  must  receive.  My  force  is  sufficient,  and  nij 
determination  taken,  to  prevent  a  future  repetition 
of  the  injuries  she  has  received.  I  demand,  there- 
fore, the  possession  of  the  Barrancas,  and  other  for- 
tifications, with  all  your  munitions  of  war.  If  de- 
livered peaceably,  the  whole  will  be  receipted  for, 
and  become  the  subject  of  future  arrangement  by 
our  respective  governments ;  while  the  property, 
laws,  and  religion  of  your  citizens  shall  be  respect- 
ed. But  if  taken  by  an  appeal  to  arms,  let  the  blood 
of  your  subjects  be  upon  your  own  head.  I  will  not 
hold  myself  responsible  for  the  conduct  of  my  en- 
raged soldiers.  One  hour  is  given  you  for  delib- 
eration, when  your  determination  must  be  had." 

The  council  was  called,  and  the  propositions  made 
considered,  when  the  conclusion  was  taken  that 
they  could  not  be  acceded  to.  As  soon  as  the  an- 
swer was  received,  showing  that  nothing  peaceably 


LIFE  OP  GENERAL  JACKSON.  18" 


could  be  effected,  Jackson  resolved  to  urge  his  army 
forward  ;  and,  immediately  commencing  his  march, 
proceeded  to  the  accomplishment  of  his  object,  de- 
termined to  effect  it,  in  despite  of  consequences. 

Early  on  the  morning  of  the  7th,  the  army  was 
in  motion.  To  foster  the  idea,  that  he  would  march 
and  reach  the  town  along  the  road  on  which  he  was 
encamped,  a  detachment  of  five  hundred  men  was 
sent  forward,  with  orders  to  show  themselves  in  this 
direction,  that  they  might  deceive  the  enemy  ;  while, 
urging  rapidly  on,  with  the  strength  of  his  army, 
he  was  gaining  Pensacola  at  a  different  point  This 
stratagem  succeeded :  the  British,  looking  for  his 
appearance  where  the  detachment  was  seen,  had 
formed  their  vessels  across  the  bay,  and  were  wait- 
ing his  approach,  with  their  guns  properly  bearing : 
nor  had  they  an  intimation  to  the  contrary,  until  our 
troops  were  descried  upon  the  beach,  on  the  east 
side,  where  they  were  at  too  great  a  distance  to  be 
armoyed  from  the  flotilla  ;  and  whence,  pushing  for- 
ward, they  were  presently  in  the  streets,  and  under 
cover  of  the  houses. 

One  company,  from  the  third  regiment  of  infan- 
try, with  two  field  pieces,  formed  the  advance,  led 
by  Captain  Laval,  who  fell,  severely  wounded,  while, 
at  the  head  of  his  command,  he  was  charging  a 
Spanish  battery,  formed  in  the  street.  The  left  col- 
umn, composed  of  the  regular  troops,  the  third, 
thirty-ninth,  and  forty-fourth  regiments,  headed  by 
Majors  Woodruff  and  Piere,  formed  the  left,  next 
the  bay.  The  dismounted  volunteers  proceeded 
down  the  street,  next  the  regulars  :  Coffee's  brig- 
ade next,  on  their  right :  the  Mississippi  dragoons, 
«ommanded  by  Colonel  Hinds,  and  the  Choctaw  In- 
dians by  Major  Blue,  of  the  thirty-ninth,  advanced 


188  LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON. 

on  the  extreme  riglit  of  all.    Captain  Laval's  party,  | 
although  deprived  of  their  leader,  moved  forward,  | 
and,  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet,  took  possession  of  I 
the  battery  in  their  front.    So  quickly  was  this  ef-  j 
fected,  that  the  Spaniards  had  it  in  their  power  to  ' 
make  but  three  fires,  before  they  were  forced  to 
abandon  it.    From  behind  the  houses  and  garden 
fences  were  constant  volleys  of  musketry  discharg- 
ed, until  the  regulars,  arriving,  met  the  Spaniards, 
and  drove  them  from  their  positions.    The  gover- 
nor, trembling  for  the  safety  of  his  city,  and  remem- 
bering the  declaration  of  the  general,  that,  if  driven 
to  extremes,  he  should  not  hold  himself  responsi- 
ble for  his  enraged  soldiers,  hastened,  bearing  a  flag  ! 
In  his  hand,  to  find  the  commander  to  stay  the  car- 
nage.    He  was  met  by  Colonels  Williamson  and 
Smith,  at  the  head  of  the  dismounted  troops,  when,  j 
with  faltering  speech,  he  entreated  that  mercy  might  : 
be  extended,  and  promised  to  consent  to  whatevei  ' 
terms  might  be  demanded  of  him.  i 

General  Jackson  had  stopped  for  a  moment  at  ! 
the  place  where  Laval  had  fallen,  and  was  at  this  I 
time  in  the  rear.  Receiving  information  that  an  j 
offer  had  been  made  by  the  governor  to  comply 
with  every  demand  heretofore  made  on  him,  he  has-  ' 
tened  to  the  intendant  house,  and  obtained  a  confir  I 
mation  of  what  had  previously  been  communicated  j 
to  him,  that  the  town  arsenals,  and  munitions  of  I 
war,  and  in  fact  whatever  was  required,  should  im-  j 
mediately  be  surrendered.  | 

The  British  vessels  remained  in  the  bay:  with  ' 
the  aid  of  their  boats,  by  which  a  nearer  situation  ' 
was  obtained,  they  continued  to  fire  upon  our  troops, 
as,  passing  along  the  principal  streets,  they  could  j 
get  them  in  the  range  of  their  guns.    Lieutenant  ' 


LIFE  OP  GENERAL   JACKSON.  189 

Call,  perceiving  some  of  their  boats  attempting  to  I 
occupy  a  more  advantageous  position,  advanced  to  I 
the  beach  with  a  single  piece  of  artillery,  where,  i 
suddenly  unmasking  himself  from  a  hill,  uncovered,  ' 
he  commenced  a  brisk  and  well-aimed  fire,  which  , 
drove  them  back  to  a  respectful  distance. 

No  time  was  lost  by  General  Jackson  in  procur- 
ing what  was  considered  by  him  of  vital  impor- 
tance— the  surrender  of  the  forts.    Although  great-  : 
er  benefits  would  have  been  derived,  had  the  sue-  ! 
cess  of  negotiation  placed  them  privately  in  his  | 
hsLnds,  without  its  being  previously  known  to  his 
enemies,  yet  even  now  their  possession  was  not  to  i 
be  neglected.    Their  occupancy  was  necessary  i 
still  to  his  own  security — to  check  any  design  that  I 
might  be  in  agitation.    What  was  the  force  oppos-  ] 
ed  to  him,  at  what  moment  re-enforceraents  might  | 
appear  off  Pensacola,  and  thereby  give  an  entire  j 
change  to  things,  as  they  at  present  existed,  were 
matters  of  which  no  certain  idea  could  be  formed. 
To  possess  the  Barrancas  was  a  consideration  of  j 
the  first  importance  ;  stOl,  until  the  town  and  its  ' 
fortresses  were  secured,  it  was  improper  to  with-  I 
draw  the  army.  ' 

Notwithstanding  the  assurances  given  by  the  gov-  I 
ernor,  tliat  all  differences  would  be  accommodated,  | 
and  every  thing  insisted  on  agreed  to,  Fort  St.  Mi-  , 
chael  was  still  withheld.  Captain  Dinkins  was  or- 
dered to  take  post  on  Mount  St.  Bernard,  form  his  | 
batteries,  and  reduce  it.  He  was  in  a  situation  to  , 
act,  when  the  commandant,  Colonel  Sotto,  ordered 
his  flag  taken  down,  and  the  fort  to  be  surrendered.  I 

It  is  curious  to  observe  the  treachery  of  the  ] 
Spaniards,  and  the  unpardonable  method  they  took  ' 
to  indulge  their  spleen.    Previously  to  striking  hi» 


3 


190  LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON. 


colours,  the  commandant  at  St.  Michael  had  asked  ' 
permission  to  discharge  his  guns  ;  to  this  there 
could  be  no  objection,  and  the  indulgence  was  readi- 
ly extended  ;  but,  faithless  and  cowardly,  he  level- 
led and  fired  his  pieces,  charged  with  grape,  at  a 
party  of  dragoons  and  Choctaw  Indians,  who  were 
at  a  small  distance,  which  killed  three  horses  and 
wounded  two  men.    Such  unpardonable  conduct, 
independent  of  other  injuries  already  noticed,  might 
have  justified  any  treatment ;  the  destruction  of  the 
garrison  would  not  have  been  an  unmerited  chas-  | 
tisement-    The  general  was  on  his  way  to  Mount  | 
Bt.  Bernard,  where  his  artillery  was  planted,  when  I 
fie  received  intelligence  of  what  had  been  done.  ' 
He  determined  no  longer  to  confide  in  persons  so  | 
faithless,  and  whose  only  object  seemed  to  deceive,  i 
but  at  once  to  make  the  sword  the  arbiter  between  , 
them.    His  cannon  were  already  turned  towards  j 
the  fort,  the  resolution  taken  to  batter  it  down,  i 
when  it  was  announced,  by  the  officer  he  had  left  j 
in  command  at  Pensacola,  that  the  capitulation  had  i 
been  agreed  on,  and  a  surrender  would  be  made  in  I 
half  an  hour.    Sensible  of  the  delicate  situation  in 
which  he  was  placed,  he  forbore  to  obey  that  im-  , 
pulse  their  unwarrantable  conduct  had  so  justly  ex- 
cited, and  forthwith  despatched  Captain  Dinkins  to  ' 
insist  on  an  immediate  delivery ;  at  the  same  time 
giving  him  directions  to  carry  it  by  storm  if  the  de-  I 
mand  was  not  instantly  complied  with.  j 
Difficulties  promised  thus  peaceably  to  terminate.  | 
The  day  was  far  spent,  and  the  general  greatly  in-  \ 
disposed ;  until  the  next  morning,  no  step  could  be 
taken  to  obtain  possession  of  the  Barrancas.    On  | 
the  credit  of  the  governor's  promises,  made  first  on  | 
iheir  entrance  Into  the  town,  the  principal  part  of  ' 


LIFE  OP  GENERAL  JACKSON-  191  I 

I 

the  army  had  been  ordered  a  short  distance  out.  i 
Understanding,  at  St.  Bernard,  that  what  had  been  I 
required  would  be  done,  and  that  no  further  delay  , 
would  be  met,  the  general  had  set  out  to  the  en- 
campment, leaving  Major  Piere  behind,  with  asuf-  ' 
ficient  force  to  preserve  every  thing  in  safety  and 
quietness.    He  was  astonished,  early  in  the  morn- 
ing, to  learn,  that  the  officer  despatched  to  St.  Mi-  | 
chael,  the  preceding  evening,  had,  on  his  arrival,  J 
been  threatened  to  be  fired  on  by  Colonel  Sotto ;  . 
who,  however,  yielded  possession,  on  being  made  to 
understand,  that,  if  the  fort  were  not  delivered  in- 
stantly, it  would  be  carried  forcibly,  and  the  garri- 
son put  to  the  sword.    A  capitulation  was  now  J 
agreed  on  :  Pensacola  and  the  different  fortresses  ' 
were  to  be  retained,  until  Spain  could  better  main-  J 
tain  her  authority  ;  while  the  rights  and  privileges  1 
of  her  citizens  were  to  be  respected.  j 
Every  thing  was  in  readiness,  on  the  following  ; 
day,  to  take  possession  of  Barrancas  Fort.  The 
faithless  conduct  of  yesterday  had  determined  Jack-  I 
son  on  the  exec".:tion  of  his  plans ;  nor  longer  to  | 
confide  in  Spaniards'  promises,  but,  on  reaching  the 
place,  to  carry  it  by  force,  if  it  were  not  immediate- 
ly surrendered.    Major  Piere  was  ordered  to  give  j 
the  command  of  the  city  to  Colonel  Hayne,  and  re-  ' 
port  himself  at  camp,  to  accompany  him  on  the 
march  ;  previously,  however,  to  retiring,  to  require  i 
of  the  governor  to  execute  an  authority  to  the  com- 
mandant of  the  fort,  to  deliver  it ;  and,  in  the  event  ^ 
he  would  not  comply  immediately,  to  arrest  him,  and 
every  public  officer,  and  hold  them  as  prisoners,  j 
The  order  for  its  delivery  had  been  signed,  and  the  I 
line  of  march  ready  to  be  taken  up,  to  receive  it,  j 
peaceably,  if  the  order  would  effect  it,  forcibly,  ii  | 

i 


192  LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON. 


not,  when  a  tremendous  explosion  in  that  direction, 
followed  by  two  others,  in  quick  succession,  excited 
the  apprehension  that  all  was  destroyed.  To  as- 
certain, certainly,  whence  the  noise  had  proceeded. 
Major  Gales,  a  volunteer  aid,  was  despatched,  with 
two  hundred  men,  to  obtain  intelligence.  He  pres- 
ently returned,  and  confirmed  what  had  been  pre- 
viously apprehended,  that  the  fort  was  blown  up, 
and  that  the  British  shipping  had  retired  from  the 
bay. 

Although  repairing  this  place  might  be  produc- 
tive of  numerous  advantages,  yet,  as  the  act  was 
unauthorized  by  his  government,  Jackson  felt  him- 
self restrained  from  incurring  any  expense  for  the 
re-establishment  of  what  had  been  thus  treacher- 
ously destroyed.  Though  disappointed  in  the  ob- 
iect  he  had  in  view,  he  believed  that  some  of  the 
benefits  expected  would  result.  This  strong  hold, 
which  had  so  long  given  protection  to  the  southern 
hostile  savages,  and  where  they  had  been  excited 
to  acts  of  cruelty,  was  assailed,  and  the  Indians 
taught  that  even  here  safety  was  not  to  be  found. 
The  valour  of  his  troops  had  impressed  on  the  minds 
of  the  Spaniards  a  respect  for  the  character  of  his 
country,  which,  hitherto,  they  had  not  entertained  ; 
and  the  British,  by  being  dislodged,  were  prevent- 
ed from  maturing  those  plans,  whicli  were  to  give 
efficacy  to  their  future  operations  against  the  south- 
ern section  of  the  Union  :  but,  as  the  means  of 
maintaining  and  defending  it  were  destroyed,  it  was 
unnecessary  to  think  of  attempting  to  hold  it.  It 
was  accoidingly  concluded  to  re-deliver  all  that  had 
been  surrendered,  and  retire  to  Fort  Montgomery. 
Jackson  was  the  more  disposed  to  adopt  this  course 
from  a  belief  that  the  British  who  had  sailed  out  of 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON.  193 


the  bay,  would  probably  make  their  way  to  Fort 
Bowyer,  and,  with  a  knowledge  of  the  principal 
strength  of  the  army  being  away,  seek  to  aim  a 
blow  somewhere  on  the  Mobile.  An  express  was 
unmcdiately  hastened  to  Colonel  Sparks,  who  had 
been  left  in  command  at  this  place,  announcing  what 
nad  transpired,  suggesting  apprehensions  for  his 
safety,  and  notifying  him,  in  the  event  of  an  attack, 
to  endeavour  to  parry  the  danger  until  the  regular 
troops  should  arrive  to  support  him. 

Two  days  after  entering  the  town,  he  abandoned 
it.  Previously  to  retiring,  he  wrote  to  Governor 
Manrequez ;  and,  after  stating  to  him  the  causes 
which  had  induced  him,  justifiably,  as  he  believed, 
to  enter  his  territory,  he  thus  concluded  :  "  As  the 
Barrancas  and  the  adjacent  fortresses  have  been 
surrendered  to  and  blown  up  by  the  British,  con- 
trary to  the  good  faith  I  had  reposed  in  your  prom- 
ises, it  is  out  of  my  power  to  guard  your  neutrali- 
ty, as  otherwise  I  should  have  done.  The  enemy 
has  retreated  ;  the  hostile  Creeks  have  fled  for  safe- 
ty to  the  forest ;  and  I  now  retire  from  your  town, 
leaving  you  to  re-occupy  your  forts,  and  protect  the 
rights  of  your  citizens." 

Our  loss  in  this  expedition  was  quite  inconsider- 
able. The  left  column  alone  met  resistance,  and 
had  fifteen  or  twenty  wounded — none  killed.  It 
appeai^s  strange,  that  three  heavy  pieces  of  artille- 
ry, charged  with  grape  and  canister,  and  three  times 
fired  against  a  column  advancing  through  a  nar- 
row street,  should  not  have  effected  greater  in- 
jury. Of  the  number  wounded  was  Lieutenant 
Flournoy,  a  promising  young  man,  who,  having  gone 
out  as  a  volunteer,  was,  on  account  of  his  merit, 
promoted  to  a  lieutenancy  in  the  forty-fourth  United 
17 


194  LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON. 


States'  regiment  By  a  cannon  shot  he  lost  his  leg. 
Captain  Laval,  being  too  dangerously  injured  lo  be 
removed,  was  confided  by  the  general  to  the  clem- 
ency of  the  governor  of  Pensacola,  who  humanely 
gave  him  that  attention  his  situation  required. 

The  Indian  warriors,  who  had  taken  refuge  ni 
Pensacola,  finding  themselves  abandoned  by  the 
British,  fled  across  the  country,  and  sought  safety 
on  the  Appalachicola :  many  were  afforded  shelter 
on  board  the  shipping,  from  which  they  wore  short- 
ly afterwards  landed,  to  prosecute  the  war  in  their 
own  way.  Jackson  determined  they  should  have 
no  respite  from  danger,  so  long  as  a  warlike  atti- 
tude was  preserved.  Recent  events  had  shown 
them,  that  neither  the  valour  of  their  allies,  nor 
their  own  exertions,  could  afford  them  protection. 
He  believed  it  an  auspicious  moment  to  pursue  them 
m  their  retreat ;  increase  still  farther  their  appre- 
hensions ;  and  effectually  cut  up  that  misplaced  con- 
fidence, which  had  already  well  nigh  proved  their 
ruin.  Understanding  that  those  who  had  been  car- 
ried off  from  Pensacola  had  been  landed  ontlie  Ap- 
palachicola, and  a  depot  of  all  necessary  supplies 
there  established,  Major  Blue,  of  the  thirty-ninth 
regiment,  was  sent  off,  on  the  1 6th,  at  the  head  of 
a  thousand  mounted  men,  with  orders  to  follow,  and 
destroy  any  of  their  villages  he  might  find  on  his 
route.  General  M'Intosh,  of  the  Georgia  militia, 
then  in  the  Creek  country,  was  apprized  of  the  des- 
tination, and  directed  to  co-operate,  that  the  sav- 
ages might  be  dispersed,  before  they  should  have 
it  in  their  power  to  attempt  hostilities  against  the 
frontiers.  Having  effected  this  object,  they  w  ere 
ordered  to  repair  to  Mobile,  to  aid  in  its  defence. 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON. 


195 


Shortly  after  the  American  army  had  retired,  the 
Spaniards  commenced  rebuilding  Forts  Barrancas 
and  St.  Rose.  Anxious  to  regam  that  confidence 
they  had  justly  forfeited,  the  Britisli  offered  their 
services  to  assist  in  the  re -establishment.  This  of- 
fer was  refused,  and  an  answer  returned  by  the 
governor,  that,  when  assistance  was  in  fact  needed, 
he  would  make  application  to  his  friend  General 
Jackson. 

There  was  nothing  now  so  muc"h  desired  by  the 
general,  as  to  be  able  to  depart  for  New  Orleans 
where  he  apprehended  the  greatest  danger.  He 
had  already  efiected  a  partial  security  for  Mobile, 
and  the  inhabitants  on  its  borders  ;  and  such  as  he 
believed  might  be  preserved,  by  proper  vigilance  in 
those  who  were  left  in  command.  He  determined 
to  set  out  on  tlie  22d  for  the  Mississippi ;  and,  by 
his  exertions,  seek  to  place  the  country  in  such 
a  situation  for  defence  as  the  means  within  his 
reach  would  permit.  His  health  was  still  delicate, 
which  almost  wholly  unfitted  him  for  the  duties  he 
had  to  encounter  ;  but  his  constant  expectation  of  a 
large  force  appearing  soon  on  the  coast  impelled 
him  to  action.  Added  to  tlie  fatigues  incident  to 
liis  station,  he  as  yet  had  no  brigadier-general  in  his 
district  to  relieve  him  of  many  of  those  duties  which 
he  had  neither  time  nor  bodily  strength  to  meet 
General  Winchester  had  been  ordered  to  join 
him.  He  had  not  yet  arrived,  but  was  daily  look- 
ed for.  In  expectation  of  his  approach,  Jackson 
was  making  every  necessary  arrangement  for  in- 
vesting him  with  the  command  of  Mobile,  and  for 
his  own  departure.  Colonel  Hayne,  the  inspector- 
general,  was  despatched  to  the  mouth  of  the  Missis- 
eippi,  to  examine  whether  in  that  direction  there 


196 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSOl*. 


were  any  eligible  site,  where,  by  erecting  batter- 
ies, the  river  miglit  be  commanded,  and  an  accent 
prevented,  if  through  this  route  attempted.  Gene- 
ral Coffee  and  Colonel  Hinds,  with  the  dragoons 
from  the  territory,  were  ordered  to  march  with  their 
commands,  and  take  a  position  as  convenient  to 
New  Orleans  as  they  could  obtain  a  sufficiency  of 
forage  to  recruit  their  horses.  Every  thing  being 
arranged,  and  intelligence  received  that  General 
Winchester  had  reached  the  Alabama  river,  Jack- 
eon,  on  the  22d  day  of  November,  left  Mobile  for 
the  city  of  New  Orleans,  where  he  arrived  on  the 
1st  of  December;  and  where  his  head-quarters 
were,  for  the  present,  established. 


LIFE  OF  CENERAt  JACKSON. 


197 


CHAPTER  Vni. 

Jackson's  conresponoence  with  the  governor  of  Lotdsicma. — Hu 
aadress  w  Oie  cUUens. — Mililia  from  Tennessee  and  Kentucky 
advance  ;  and  j^enera/  plans  adopted  for  defence. — Plan  for fill 
ing  delinquencies  in  the  army. — British  shipping  arriiv  on  the 
coast. — Loss  of  tiie  i>ea  Horse. — Battle  on  the  lake,  and  loss  oj 
tlie  gun-boals. — Jackson  reiieios  the  militia. — His  address  to 
them. — Detention  of  his  flag. — Anecdote. — E.rpresses  sent  tc 
Generals  Coffee  and  Carroll. — Declaration  of  martial  law  at 
NevD  Orleans. —  The  British  effect  a  landing,  and  Jackson  pre- 
pares to  meet  them. 

General  Jackson  was  now  on  a  new  theatre :  the 
time  had  arrived  to  call  forth  all  his  energies.  His 
military  career,  from  its  commencement,  had  been 
obstructed,  but  far  greater  diflBcuIties  were  now  ris- 
ing. His  body  worn  down  by  exhaustion,  with  a  mind 
alive  to  the  apprehension,  that  the  means  given  him 
would  not  satisfy  his  own  wishes  and  the  expecta- 
tions of  his  country,  were  circumstances  calculated 
to  depress  him.  He  was  without  sufficient  strength 
or  preparation  to  attempt  successful  opposition 
against  well-trained  troops,  which  were  expected 
at  some  unprepared  point. 

Louisianat,  he  well  knew,  was  ill  supplied  with 
arms,  and  contained  a  mixed  population,  of  different 
tongues,  who,  perhaps,  felt  not  a  sufficient  attach- 
ment for  the  soil  or  government,  to  be  induced  to 
defend  them.  No  troops,  arms  or  ammunition  had 
yet  descended  from  the  states  of  Kentucky  and 
Tennessee.  His  only  reliance  for  defence,  if  sud- 
denly assailed,  was  on  a  few  regulars,  the  volun- 
teers of  General  Coffee,  and  such  troops  as  the 
state  could  furnish.  What  might  be  the  final  re 
17* 


198  LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON. 


suit  of  tilings  was  not  a  matter  difficult  to  conjec- 
ture. His  principal  fears  at  present  were,  that 
Mobile  might  fall,  the  left  bank  of  the  Mississippi 
be  gained,  all  communication  with  the  western  states 
cut  off,  and  New  Orleans  be  thus  unavoidably  re- 
duced. Although  agitated  by  such  forebodings,  he 
breathed  his  fears  to  none.  Closely  locking  all 
apprehensions  in  his  own  breast,  he  appeared  con- 
stantly serene,  and  as  constantly  endeavoured  U> 
impress  a  general  belief,  that  the  country  could  and 
would  be  defended. 

While  engaged  in  his  operations  on  the  Mobile,, 
and  even  while  at  Fort  Jackson,  he  had  kept  up  a 
correspondence  with  the  governor  of  Louisiana,^ 
urging  him  to  the  adoption  of  such  measures  as 
might  give  security  to  the  state.  From  his  informa- 
tion, he  felt  assured,  that  little  reliance  was  to  be- 
placed  on  the  great  body  of  the  citizens ;  and  that,, 
to  gain  any  decisive  advantages  from  their  services,, 
it  would  be  necessary  to  abandon  temporizing  pol-- 
icy,  and  pursue  a  course  steady  and  unwavering.. 
Many  of  the  inliabitants  indulging  a  belief  that; 
Florida  would  be  restored  to  Spain,  had  led  wel], 
designing  men  astray ;  while  Englishmen,  Span- 
iards, and  other  foreigners,  feeling  no  attachment  to. 
the  government  under  which  they  lived,  were  ready 
to  surrender  it  to  any  power.  The  requisition 
made  had  been  badly  filled  ;  many  had  refused,  af- 
ter being  drafted,  to  enter  the  ranks.  At  so  event- 
ful a  crisis,  it  was  painful  to  discover  so  great  a 
want  of  union,  and  disregard  of  duty 

Governor  Claiborne  had  been  addressed  on  this 
subject :  "  I  regret,"  said  Jackson,  "  to  hear  of  the 
discontents  of  your  people:  they  must  not  exist. 
Whoever  is  not  for  us,  is  against  us.  Those  who  are 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON.  199 

drafted  must  be  compelled  to  the  ranks,  or  punish-  ' 

ed :  it  is  no  time  to  balance  :  the  country  must  be  j 

defended  ;  and  he  who  refuses  to  aid,  when  called  ' 

on,  must  be  treated  with  severity.    To  repel  the  ^ 

danger  with  which  we  are  assailed,  requires  all  | 
our  energies,  and  all  our  exertions.    With  union 

on  our  side,  we  sheill  be  able  to  drive  our  invaders  \ 

back  to  the  ocean.  Summon  all  your  energy,  and  ; 
guard  every  avenue  with  confidential  patroles,  for 

spies  and  traitors  are  swarming  around.    Numbers  | 

will  be  flocking  to  your  city,  to  gain  information,  I 

and  corrupt  your  citizens.    Every  aid  in  your  power  i 

must  be  given  to  prevent  vessels  sailing  with  pro-  ! 
visions.    By  us  the  enemy  must  not  be  fed.  Let 

none  pass  ;  for  on  this  will  depend  our  safety,  until  i 

we  can  get  a  competent  force  in  the  field,  to  oppose  '< 

attack,  or  to  become  the  assailants.  We  have  more  i 

to  dread  from  intestine,  than  open  and  avowed  ene-  ' 

tisuea:  but  vigilance  on  our  side,  and  411  will  be  i 
-safe.    Remember,  our  watch  word  is  victory  or 

■  death.    Our  country  must  and  shall  be  defended.  ' 

We  will  enjoy  our  liberty,  or  perish  in  the  last  i 

ditch."  : 

He  forwarded  an  address  to  the  people  of  Louisi-  ! 
ana,  to  excite  them  to  a  defence  of  their  rights  and 

liberties,  and  to  raise  in  their  minds  an  abhorrence  | 

of  <in  enemy.  He  pointed  out  the  course  the  pres-  I 
ant  crisis  required  them  to  adopt,  and  entreated 

them  not  to  be  lured  from  their  fidelity.  | 

"  Your  government,  Louisianians,  is  engaged  in  I 
a  just  and  honourable  contest,  for  the  security  of 

•your  individual,  and  her  national  rights.    The  only  , 
•  country  on  earth,  where  man  enjoys  freedom,  where 
lita  blessiiigs  are  alike  extended  to  the  pom  aod 


200  LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON. 

rich,  calls  on  you  to  protect  her  from  the  grasping 
usurpation  of  Britain: — she  will  not  call  in  vain.  I 
I  know  that  every  man,  whose  bosom  beats  high  at  ' 
the  proud  title  of  freeman,  will  promptly  obey  her  | 
voice,  and  rally  round  the  eagles  of  his  country  i 
resolved  to  rescue  her  from  impending  danger,  or  1 
nobly  to  die  in  her  defence.  He  who  refuses  to  ! 
defend  his  rights,  when  called  on  by  his  govern-  '■ 
ment,  deserves  to  be  a  slave — deserves  to  be  ' 
punished  as  an  enemy  to  his  country — a  friend  to 
her  foes."  I 

The  people  of  Louisiana  were  gradually  turned  i 
to  consider  the  contest,  in  which  it  was  expected  ' 
they  were  to  be  engaged,  that  they  might  be  pre-  | 
pared  to  meet  it,  when  necessary.  Preparations 
for  collecting,  in  sufficient  strength,  to  repel  an  in-  | 
vasion,  when  it  should  be  attempted,  had  been  car- 
ried actively  forward.    The  fiat  of  the  secretary  ( 
of  war  h'ad  been  issued  to  the  governors  of  the  adi-  j 
joining  states ;  and  Jackson  had  long  since  anx-  } 
iously  pressed  them  to  hasten  the  execution  of  the 
order,  and  push  their  forces  to  the  place  of  danger.  ] 
The  ardour  felt  by  the  governor  of  Tennessee 
rendered  any  incentive  unnecessary.    He  was  well  ■ 
aware  of  the  importance  of  activity,  and  had  used 
all  the  authority  of  his  ofSce  to  call  the  requisition  ; 
forth,  and  have  it  in  readiness.  i 

Governor  Shelby,  of  Kentucky,  had  been  no  less  1 
vigilant.  The  necessity  of  despatch  in  military 
matters,  fwd  the  advantages  resulting  from  it,  in  his  j 
youth  and  more  advanced  age,  he  had  learned  in 
the  field  of  battle.  The  troops  from  liis  state  were  ; 
immediately  organized,  placed  under  the  com-  . 
mand  of  Major-General  Thomas,  and  directed  to  ! 


LIFE    or   GENERAL  JACKSON. 


201 


proceed  down  the  Ohio.*  It  may  be  esteemed  a 
circumstance  of  good  fortune,  that  Shelby  should 
have  been  the  chief  magistrate  of  Kentucky  ;  a 
state  possessing  ample  resources,  and  which  might 
have  slumbered  in  inaction,  but  for  the  energy  of 
him.  He  did  not  remain  contented  with  a  dis- 
ciiarge  merely  of  those  duties  which  were  imposed 
on  him  by  his  office  ;  but,  feeling  the  ardour  of  his 
youth  revived,  excited  his  citizens,  and  inspirited 
them  by  his  own  example.  The  promptitude  with 
which  they  crowded  to  the  American  standard,  at 
the  first  danger,  enduring  cold,  hunger,  and  priva- 
tion, should  be  remembered,  and  entitle  her  citizens 
to  the  gratitude  of  the  country. 

William  Carroll,  who,  on  the  promotion  of  Jack- 
son ill  the  army  of  the  United  States,  had  been  ap- 
pointed a  major-general  of  Tennessee  militia,  was 
to  command  tlie  requisition  intended  to  be  marched 
from  the  state.  He  had  issued  orders  to  his  divi- 
sion, and,  on  the  19th  of  November,  twenty-five 
hundred  of  the  yeomanry  of  the  state  appeared  at 
Nashville,  and,  in  eight  days,  embarked  on  board 
their  boats  for  New  Orleans.  To  the  industry  of 
General  Carroll  every  respect  is  due  ;  for,  to  his 
fortunate  arrival,  .is  will  be  seen  hereafter,  is  to  be 
attributed  the  reason  that  success  did  not  result  to 
the  enemy,  in  his  first  assault,  or  that  Louisiana 
escaped  the  impending  danger. 

The  militia,  now  organized,  from  two  states, 
were  respectable  for  their  numbers,  and  were  com- 

*  When  this  requisition  was  ready  to  proceed,  the  state  of  the 
ifiiuicr-nia-iler's  department  was  discovered  to  l)e  wliolly  inade- 
quate to  those  outfits  and  supjdies  necessary  to  its  departure. 
Thus  situated,  individuals  of  ine  state  canve  forward,  pledged 
llmir  funds,  and  enabled  it  to  advance. 


202              LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON.  j 

manded  by  officers  who  carried  with  them  entire  ' 
coniiJence     In  bravery,  they  were  not  surpassed  ; 

yet  they  were  without  experience  or  discipline,  and  ' 

indifferently  armed.  Many  had  procured  muskets  ' 
and  bayonets  ;  though  the  greater  part  of  them  had 

arms  capable  of  rendering  little  or  no  service ;  ' 

while  some  had  none  at  all.    To  remedy  their  want  ' 

of  discipline  was  attended  with  some  difficulty,  on  | 

account  of  the  slender  means  afforded  for  instruc-  1 

tion,  while,  in  boats,  they  were  descending  the  river.  ' 
Carroll's  anxiety,  however,  for  tlie  respectable  ap- 
pearance of  his  troops,  and  a  still  stronger  desire 

entertained,  that  they  might  be  in  a  situation  for  | 

immediate  action,  if  necessity,  on  his  arrival,  should  I 

require  it,  led  him  to  seize  even  on  the  limited  | 
opportunities  for  improvement. 

Although  General  Jackson  had  obtained  his  sue-  j 
cesses  heretofore  with  troops  of  this  description,  yet 

he  was  far  from  entertaining  a  belief  they  could  be  , 

relied  on  for  manoeuvring  in  an  open  field,  against  ' 
troops  inured  to  war.  None  knew  better  the  point  of 
exertion  to  which  militia  could  be  strained.    In  a 

letter  to  the  secretary  of  war,  of  the  20th  of  Novem-  ] 

her,  1814,  he  observes,  "  Permit  me  to  suggest  a  ' 
plan,  which,  on  a  fair  experiment,  will  do  away  or 

lessen  the  expenses,  under  the  existing  mode  of  call-  j 

ing  militia  forces  into  the  field.    Whenever  there  > 

happens  to  be  a  deficiency  in  the  regular  force,  in  j 

any  particular  quarter,  let  the  government  determine  i 

on  the  necessary  number:  this  should  be  apportioned  j 

among  the  different  states,  agreeably  to  their  respec-  j 

tive  representations,  and  called  into  service  for,  and  ' 

during  the  war.    The  quota  wanted  will,  in  my  j 

opinion,  be  soon  raised  from  premiums  offered  by  I 

those  who  are  subject  to  militia  duty,  rather  than  be  ' 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON  203 


harassed  by  repeated  drafts.  In  the  mean  time,  let 
the  present  bounty,  given  by  the  government,  be  also 
continued.  If  this  be  done,  I  will  ensure  that  an 
effective  force  shall  soon  appear  in  every  quarter, 
amply  sufficient  for  the  reduction  of  Canada,  and 
to  drive  all  our  enemies  from  our  shores." 

Such  were  the  course  of  things,  and  such  the 
plans  in  progress  for  the  safety  of  the  country, 
when  the  general  reached  New  Orleans. 

The  legislature  of  Louisiana  had  for  some  weeks 
been  in  session ;  and,  through  the  governor's  com- 
munication, informed  of  the  situation,  condition  and 
strength  of  the  country,  and  of  the  necessity  of 
calling  all  its  resources  into  operation  ;  but,  balanc- 
ing in  their  decisions,  and  uncertain  of  the  best 
course  to  be  pursued,  they,  as  yet,  had  resolved 
upon  nothing.  The  arrival  of  Jackson,  however, 
produced  a  new  aspect  in  affairs.  His  activity  in 
preparation,  and  his  reputation  as  a  brave  and  skil- 
fiil  commander,  had  turned  all  eyes  towards  him, 
and  inspired  even  the  desponding  with  confidence. 

The  volunteer  corps  of  the  city  were  reviewed, 
and  a  visit,  in  person,  made  to  the  different  forts, 
to  ascertain  their  capacity  for  defence,  and  the  re- 
liance that  might  be  had  on  them  to  repel  the  ene- 
my's advance.  Through  the  lakes  large  vessels 
could  not  pass :  should  an  approach  be  attempted 
through  this  route,  in  their  barges,  it  might  be 
opposed  by  the  gun-boats  whicii  guarded  this  pas- 
sage ;  but  if,  unequal  to  the  contest,  they  should  be 
captured,  it  would  give  timely  information  of  a 
descent,  which  might  be  resisted  at  their  landing, 
and  before  any  opportunity  could  be  had  of  execut- 
ing fully  their  designs.  Up  the  Mississippi,  how- 
ever, was  looked  upon  as  the  most  probable  pass, 


204  LIFE  OP  GENERAL  JACKSON. 


through  which  might  be  made  an  attempt  to  reach 
the  city;  and  here  were  in  progress  suitable  prep- 
arations for  defence. 

We  have  already  noticed,  that  Colonel  Hayne 
nad  been  despatched  from  Mobile  with  directions  to 
view  the  Mississippi  near  its  mouth,  and  report  it 
any  advantageous  position  could  be  found  for  the 
erection  of  batteries ;  and  whether  the  re-establish- 
ment of  the  old  fort  at  the  Balize  would  command 
the  river,  in  a  way  to  prevent  its  being  ascended. 
That  it  could  not  be  relied  on  for  this  purpose,  tlie 
opinions  of  military  men  had  already  declared 
General  Jackson  was  disposed  to  respect  the  de- 
cisions of  those  who  were  entitled  to  con-ldence , 
yet,  in  matters  of  great  importance,  it  formed  no 
part  of  his  creed  to  attach  his  faith  to  the  state- 
ments of  any,  where,  the  object  being  within  his 
reach,  it  was  in  his  power  to  look  to  the  fact,  and 
satisfy  himself.  Trusting  implicitly  in  Colonel 
Hayne  as  a  military  man,  he  had  despatched  him 
thither  to  examine  how  far  it  was  practicable  to- 
obstruct  and  secure  this  channel.  His  report  was. 
confirmatory  of  the  previous  information  received, 
that  it  was  incapable,  from  its  situation,  of  eflfecting 
any  such  object. 

Fort  St.  PhUip  was  now  resorted  to  as  the  lowest 
point  on  the  river  where  the  erection  of  a  fortifica- 
tion could  be  at  all  serviceable.  The  general  had 
returned  to  New  Orleans  on  the  9th,  from  a  visit 
to  this  place,  which  he  had  ordered  to  be  repaired. 
The  commanding  officer  was  directed  to  remove 
every  combustible  material  without  the  fort;  to- 
have  two  additional  platforms  immediately  raised; 
and  the  embrasures  so  enlarged  that  the  ordnance 
might  have  the  greatest  possible  sweep  upon  their 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON.  205 

circles,  and  be  brought  to  bear  on  any  object  witBin 
their  range,  that  might  approach  either  up  or  down 
the  river.  At  a  small  distance  below,  the  Mississip- 
pi, changing  its  course,  left  a  neck  of  land,  in  the 
bend,  covered  with  timber,  which  obstructed  tho 
view.  From  this  point  down  to  where  old  Fort 
Bourbon  stood,  on  the  west  side,  the  growth  along 
the  bank  was  ordered  to  be  cut  away,  that  the  shot 
from  St.  Philip,  ranging  across  this  point  of  land, 
might  reach  an  approaching  vessel  before  she  should 
be  unmasked  from  behind  it.  On  the  site  of  Bour- 
bon was  to  be  thrown  up  a  strong  work,  defended 
by  five  twenty-four  pounders,  which,  with  the  fort 
above,  would  be  calculated  to  expose  an  enemy  to 
a  cross  fire,  for  half  a  mile.  A  mile  above  St. 
Philip  was  to  be  established  a  work,  which,  in  con- 
junction with  the  others,  would  effectually  command 
the  river  for  two  miles.  At  Terre  au  Bceuf,  and  at 
the  English  Turn,  twelve  nules  below  the  city,  were 
also  to  be  taken  measures  for  defence ;  where  it 
was  expected  by  Jackson,  with  his  flying  artillery 
and  fire  ships,  he  would  be  able  certainly  to  arrest 
the  enemy's  advance.  This  system  of  defence, 
properly  established,  he  believed,  would  ensure  se- 
curity from  any  attack  in  this  direction.  Fort  St. 
Philip,  with  the  auxiliary  batteries  above  and  below 
it,  would  so  concentrate  their  fires,  that  an  enemy 
could  never  pass  without  suffering  greatly,  and,  per- 
haps, being  so  shattered  that  they  would  fall  an 
easy  prey  to  those  defences  which  were  still  higher 
up  the  river.  The  essential  difficulty  wat;  to  have 
them  speedily  finished.  On  returning,  he  histened 
10  apprize  the  governor  of  his  views,  anj  of  his 
irrangeraents,  and  entreated  liim  to  aid  in  their 
furtherance.  It  was  proposed  to  submit  it  to  the 
18 


206  LIFE  OP  GENERAL  JACKSON. 


consideration  of  the  legislature,  anil  to  prevail,  if 
possible,  with  the  planters  to  furnish  their  slaves, 
by  whom,  alone,  such  work  could,  in  so  insalubrious 
a  climate,  be  safely  executed.  "  If  what  is  pro- 
posed be  performed,"  said  he,  "I  will  stand  pledged 
that  the  invaders  of  your  state  shall  never,  through 
this  route,  reach  your  city."  He  desired  to  be  in- 
formed, early,  of  the  success  of  the  application, 
and  to  know  how  far  the  legislature  would  be  dis- 
posed to  extend  their  fostering  care  to  the  objects 
suggested ;  that,  in  the  event  of  failure,  he  might 
have  recourse  to  such  resources  as  were  within  his 
reach.  "  But,"  added  he,  "  not  a  moment  is  to  be 
lost.  With  energy  and  expedition,  all  is  safe : — 
delay,  and  all  is  lost." 

The  plans  of  operation  and  defence  were  pro- 
jecting on  an  extensive  scale.  The  only  objects  of 
fear  were  the  disaffected  who  infested  the  city : 
and  to  these,  after  the  most  mcessant  exertions,  he 
had  well  nigh  fallen  a  victim. 

On  Lakes  Borgne  and  Pontchartrain  an  equally 
strong  confidence  was  had  that  all  would  be  safe 
from  invasion.  Commodore  Patterson,  who  com- 
manded the  naval  forces,  had  executed  every  order 
with  promptness.  Agreeably  to  instructions  from 
the  general,  to  extend  to  all  the  passes  on  the  lakes 
every  protection  in  his  power,  he  had  sent  out  the 
gun-boats,  under  Lieutenant  Jones.  From  their 
capability  to  defend,  great  advantages  were  calcu- 
lated to  arise ;  added  to  which,  the  Rigolets,  the 
communication  between  the  two  lakes,  was  defend- 
ed by  Petit  Coquille  Fort,  a  strong  work,  under  the 
command  of  Captain  Newman,  which,  when  acting 
in  conjunction  with  the  gun-boats,  it  was  supposed, 
would  be  competent  to  repel  any  assault  Guards 


■LITE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON.  207  | 

and  videttes  were  also  posted  in  different  directions  | 
to  give  the  earliest  information  of  every  thing  that 
passed.    In  despite,  however,  of  these  precaution  j 
ary  measures,  treachery  opened  a  way,  and  pointed 
the  entrance   of  the  enemy  to  a  narrow  pass, 
through  which  they  effected  a  landing,  and  reached,  ' 
previously  to  being  discovered,  the  banks  of  the  j 
Mississippi.  I 

Such  were  the  measures  adopted  for  the  protec-  I 
tion  of  Louisiana  against  an  attack.    Information  \ 
Df  a  considerable  force  having  left  England  filled  ; 
with  high  expectations,  the  attack  on  Fort  Bow- 
yer,  and  the  inflammatory  proclamations  already 
published,  with  anonymous  letters  received  from  | 
oersons  in  the  West  Indies  and  Pensacola,  tended  | 
to  unfold  the  views  of  the  enemy,  and  to  dissipate  ' 
every  thing  of  doubt  as  to  their  designs.    But  the  ■ 
time  was  at  hand  when  conjecture  was  giving  j 
place  to  certainty;  when  the  intentions  of  the  in-  I 
vaders  were  fully  developing  thenwelves,  and  the 
fact  fairly  presented,  that  Louisiana  must  fall,  and 
her  principal  city  be  sacked,  unless  the  brave  men  | 
associated  to  defend  her  should  stand  firmly  in  her  ' 
defence.    Certain  information  was  at  hand  of  an  , 
English  fleet  being  off  Cat  and  Ship  Islands,  and  i 
within  a  short  distance  of  the  American  lines,  I 
where  their  numbers  were  daily  increasing.  I 

Lieutenant  Jones,  in  command  of  the  gun-boats  ' 
on  Lake  Borgne,  was  directed  to  reconnoitre,  and 
ascertain  their  disposition  and  force  j  and,  in  the 
event  they  should  attempt,  through  this  route,  to  , 
effect  a  disembarkation,  to  retire  to  the  Rigolets, 
and  there,  with  his  flotilla,  contend  to  the  last 
He  remained  off  Ship  Island  until  the  12th  of  De- 
eember,  when,  understanding  the  enemy's  forces 


1 


208  LIFE  OP  GENEllAL  JACKSON.  I 

were  much  increased,  he  thought  it  advisable  to  | 
change  his  anchorage  to  a  position  near  Malheur-  | 
eux  Island  This  was  rendered  necessary,  because  i 
it  was  a  safer  position,  in  the  event  of  being  attack-  I 
ed.  Whoever  looks  upon  a  map  of  the  country  j 
will  discover  the  importance  of  this  place  if  driven 
into  action  with  a  greatly  superior  force.  This, 
and  Chef  Menteur,  which  unite  at  the  entrance  to  | 
the  lake,  and  form  a  narrow  channel,  constitutes  I 
the  only  pass  into  Pontciiartrain.  By  reaching  it,  : 
the  gun-boats  would  be  enabled  to  present  a  foitmi-  | 
dable  opposition. 

On  the  13th,  Jones  discovered  the  enemy  mov- 
ing off  in  his  barges  towards  Pass  Christian.  His 
orders  left  him  no  discretion  as  to  the  place  he 
should  fight  them.    Indeed,  his  flotilla,  although 
quite  inconsiderable,  was  of  too  much  consequence 
to  the  nation,  at  this  juncture,  to  be  risked  at  all, 
unless  under  circumstances  giving  a  decided  supe-  i 
riority.    In  no  otlier  way  was  this  to  be  obtained,  j 
than  by  reaching  the  point  to  which  he  had  been 
ordered :  this  he  endeavoured  to  effect,  as  he  be-  ] 
came  satisfied  of  what  was  intended  by  their  move-  ! 
ment.    Weighing  his  anchors,  with  the  design  of  j 
reaching  the  position  referred  to  in  his  orders,  he  | 
discovered  it  to  be  wholly  impracticable.    A  strong  | 
wind  having  blown  for  some  days  to  the  east,  from  j 
the  lake  to  the  gulf,  had  so  reduced  the  depth  of 
water,  that  the  deepest  channels  were  insufficient 
to  float  his  little  squadron.    The  oars  were  resort-  i 
ed  to,  but  without  rendering  the  least  assistance : 
it  was  immoveable.    Every  thing  was  thrown  over-  . 
board  that  could  be  spared,  to  lighten  them  ;  all,  ', 
however,  was  ineffectual.    At  this  moment  of  ex-  . 
treme  peril,  the  tida  coming  suddenly  in,  relieved 


i 

i 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON. 


209 


them  from  the  shoal,  and  they  came  to  anchor  at 
one  o'clock  the  next  morning  on  the  west  passage 
of  Malheureux  Isle  ;  where,  at  day,  they  discovered 
the  pursuit  had  been  abandoned. 

At  the  bay  of  St.  Louis  was  a  small  depot  of 
public  stores,  which  had,  that  morning,  been  direct- 
ed, by  Jones,  to  be  brought  off.  Mr.  Johnston,  on 
board  the  Sea  Horse,  proceeded  in  the  execution 
of  this  order.  The  enemy,  on  the  retreat  of  Jones, 
despatched  three  of  their  barges  to  capture  him  ; 
but,  unable  to  effect  it,  they  were  driven  back.  An 
additional  force  now  proceeded  against  him  ;  when 
a  smart  action  commenced,  and  the  assaOants  were 
again  compelled  to  retire  with  some  loss.  John- 
ston, satisfied  that  it  was  out  of  his  power  to  defend 
himself,  and  considering  it  hopeless  to  attempt  unit- 
ing, in  face  of  so  large  a  force,  with  the  gun- 
boats off  Malheureux  Island,  blew  up  his  vessel, 
burnt  the  stores,  and  effected  his  retreat  by  land, 
in  conformity  to  the  instructions  he  had  received. 
A  prodigious  explosion  assured  Jones  of  the  proba- 
ble step  that  had  been  taken,  and  of  the  execution 
of  the  order. 

Early  on  the  morning  of  the  14th,  the  enemy's 
barges,  about  nine  miles  to  the  east,  suddenly 
weighed  their  anchors  ;  and,  getting  under  way, 
proceeded  westwardly  to  the  pass,  where  our  gun- 
boats still  lay.  The  same  difficulty  experienced 
yesterday  was  now  encountered.  Perceiving  the 
approach  of  the  enemy's  flotilla,  an  attempt  was 
made  to  retreat ;  but  in  vain.  The  wind  was  en- 
tirely lulled,  and  a  perfect  calm  prevailed  ;  while  a 
strong  current,  setting  to  the  gulf,  rendered  every 
-effort  to  retire  unavailing.  No  alternative  was  at 
hand ;  but  a  single  course  was  left, — to  meet  and 
18* 


210  LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACK90K 

fight  them.    At  once  the  resolution  was  adopted, 
to  avail  themselves  of  the  best  position  they  could  I 
obtain,  wait  their  approach,  and  defend  themselves,  I 
whilst  there  was  a  hope  of  success.    The  line  waa  | 
formed,  with  springs  on  the  cables,  and  all  were  I 
waiting  the  arrival  of  a  foe,  who  imagined  himself  ' 
advancing  to  an  easy  conquest.    The  contest,  in  so 
open  a  situation,  and  against  such  superior  force,  1 
promised  to  be  very  unequal ;  yet  the  bravery,  j 
which  had  always  characterized  our  fearless  tars 
in  battle,  was,  on  this  occasion,  not  to  be  tarnished. 

Forty-three  boats,  mounting  as  many  cannon, 
with  twelve  hundred  chosen  men,  well  armed,  con- 
stituted the  strength  of  the  assailants.  Advancing 
in  extended  line,  they  were  presently  in  reach  ;  and, 
at  half  after  eleven  o'clock,  commencing  a  fire,  the 
action  soon  became  general.    Owing  to  a  strong 
current,  setting  out  to  the  east,  two  of  the  boats, 
numbers  156  and  163,  were  unable  to  keep  their 
anchorage,  and  floated  about  a  hundred  yards  in  j 
advance  of  the  line.    This  circumstance  was  un- 
fortunate ;  for,  although  it  was  by  no  means  to  be 
calculated,  that  victory  could  be  attendant  on  a  con-  i 
flict  where  strength  and  numbers  were  so  dispro- 
portionate, yet,  could  the  line  have  been  preserved  ' 
the  chances  for  defence  would  have  been  increased,  i 
the  opportunity  more  favourable  for  inflicting  injury 
and  crippling  the  foe,  while  the  period  of  the  con-  i 
test  would  have  been  protracted.    Every  momeri 
this  could  have  been  prolonged  would  have  proved  ! 
advantageous ;  for,  soon  as  tlie  wind  should  spring 
up,  which  yet  continued  lulled,  the  boats  would  be  \ 
more  manageable,  and  an  opportunity  afforded  of  1 
retiring  from  the  battle  whenever  the  result  became 
disastrous. 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON.  211 


The  enemy,  relying  on  their  numbers,  advanced  , 
in  three  divisions.    Our  gun-boats,  formed  in  a  line, 
were  uuder  command  of  Lieutenant  Jones,  who, 
on  board  No.  156,  occupied  the  centre.    No.  162  \ 
and  163  rested  on  liis  left,  under  the  direction  ot  ; 
Lieutenant  Spedden  and  Sailing-master  Ulrich  ;  on  ( 
his  right  were  No.  5  and  23,  commanded  by  Sailing  ' 
master  Ferris  and  Lieutenant  M'lver.    The  centre 
division  of  the  enemy,  led  by  the  senior  officer  of  1 
the  expedition,  Captain  Lockyer,  bore  down  on  No.  \ 
156,  the  centre  of  our  line,  and,  twice  attempting  ! 
to  board,  was  twice  repulsed  with  an  immense  de- 
struction of  both  officers  and  crew,  and  loss  of  two 
of  their  boats,  which  were  sunk :  one,  a  seventy 
four's  launch,  crowded  with  men,  went  down  im  ; 
mediately  along-side  of  the  gun-boat    Jones,  being 
too  severely  wounded  longer  to  maintain  the  deck,  ] 
retired,  leaving  the  command  with  George  Parker,  i 
who  no  less  valiantly  defended  his  flag,  until,  badly  | 
wounded,  he  was  also  compelled  to  leave  his  post ; 

and  soon  after  the  boat  was  carried.    No.  163,  i 

'  I 

though  ably  defended,  was  also  taken ;  and  the 
guns  of  both  turned  on  No.  162  and  5,  which  also 
surrendered  ;  and,  last  of  all,  No.  23,  conmianded  by  , 
Lieutenant  M'lver.    Thus  in  detail  was  our  little 
squadron,  after  a  conflict  of  nearly  an  hour,  lost ;  j 
a  conflict  in  which  every  thing  was  done  that  gal- 
lantry could  do,  and  nothing  unperformed  that  duty  ' 
required  ;  but  it  was  a  disaster  which,  under  all  | 
the  circumstances,  could  not  be  avoided.  The 
calm  which  prevailed,  and  the  unwieldy  condition  i 
of  the  boats,  prevented  any  management  by  the  ' 
oars. 

The  commandant  was  ably  supported  by  the  offi-  I 
«OTB  associated  with  him.    Lieutenants  Spedden  &Qd  I 


I 
I 


212  LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON. 

M'lver  were  wounded ;  the  former  in  both  arms,  | 
and  in  one  so  severely  as  to  be  compelled  to  have  ( 
it  amputated ;  yet  this  valiant  officer  to  the  last 
continued  his  orders  :  nor  did  the  latter  quit  for  a  I 
moment  his  post.    Midshipmen  Cauley  and  Rey-  | 
nolds,  young  men  of  promise,  fell  victims  to  the  ' 
wounds  received  in  this  contest.    It  is  unnecessary  I 
to  take  up  the  time  of  the  reader  in  commendation  : 
of  this  Spartan  band :  their  bravery  wUl  be  long  ; 
remembered,  and  excite  emotions  stronger  than 
language  can  paint.    The  great  disparity  of  force  j 
between  the  combatants  presents  a  curious  result ;  ] 
that,  while  the  American  loss  was  but  ten  killed,  and  : 
thirty-five  wounded,  that  of  their  assailants  waa  j 
not  less  than  three  hundred.    The  British  have  i 
never  presented  any  report  upon  this  subject :  but, ! 
from  every  information,  and  from  all  the  attendant 
circumstances  of  the  battle,  it  was  even  believed 
to  have  exceeded  this  number ;  of  which  a  large 
proportion  was  officers.*  ' 
The  British  returned  to  their  shipping,  at  Cat  ] 
Island,  with  their  prisoners,  with  a  convincing  argu-  j 
ment,  to  do  away  the  belief  which  they  enter-] 
tained,  that,  in  this  section  of  country,  the  in- 
habitants were  waiting,  with  open  arms,  to  receive 
them. 

This  disaster  was  announced  to  General  Jackson 
whUe  on  a  visit  to  the  lakes,  whither  he  had  gone 
to  examine  the  situation  of  the  diflferent  works  | 


Boats. 

Men. 

Guns. 

*  The  British  had 

43 

1200 

43 

The  Americans 

5 

182 

23 

DifiTerence 

38 

1018 

20 

So  that  the  disparity  in  force  of  boaU,  men,  and  gum,  WM  •■  ! 
eight-  «even — and  nearly  two  to  one.  i 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON.  213 


in  progress.  He  heard  it  with  much  concern ;  for 
on  it  important  consequences  depended. 

His  fears  for  the  safety  of  Mobile  were  much 
increased.  Although  he  had  every  confidence  in 
the  gallant  officer  who  commanded  at  Fort  Bowyer. 
he  well  knew  how  inefficient  were  the  exertions  ol 
a  brave  man,  when  assailed  by  superior  strength 
The  security  of  this  place  was  of  great  importance. 
Hid  own  apprehensions  of  an  invasion  here,  as  af- 
fecting the  interest  of  the  lower  country,  was  to 
bim  a  cause  of  constant  uneasiness.  He  felt  con 
fident,  while  this  point  remained  safe,  so  might  the 
country  adjacent ;  but,  if  it  fell,  the  Indians  would 
again  be  excited,  the  settlements  on  the  Mobile 
and  Alabama  rivers  become  tributary,  and  New 
Orleans  be  involved  in  the  general  ruin.  Deeply 
impressed  with  the  importance  of  defending  this 
place,  he  had  brought  to  the  view  of  the  secretary 
of  war  the  necessity  of  adopting  such  a  course  as 
should  place  it  entirely  out  of  the  reach  of  danger. 
To  effect  tliis,  he  proposed  that  a  large  frigate, 
mounting  forty-four  guns,  which,  for  some  cause, 
had  been  left  on  the  stocks,  at  Tchifonte,  in  an  un- 
finished state,  should  be  completed.  "  Let  her,' 
he  remarked,  "  be  placed  in  the  Navy  Cove,  which 
will  protect  the  rear  of  the  fort,  and,  my  life  upon 
it,  ten  thousand  troops,  and  all  the  British  fleet, 
cannot  take  the  place,  nor  enter  the  bay.  This 
will  be  their  point  of  attack ;  if  carried,  they  will 
penetrate  the  Indian  nation, — there  make  a  stand, 
and  incite  the  pavages  to  war,  and  the  slaves  to  in- 
surrection and  massacre ; — penetrate,  if  they  can, 
to  the  left  bank  of  the  Mississippi,  and  arrest  all 
communication.  If  they  succeed  in  this,  the  lower 
country  falls  of  course."    No  notice,  however,  waa 


214  LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON. 


ever  taken  of  his  admonition,  and  nothing  done  to 
effect  the  object  proposed.   His  entire  defence  and  i 
safety  rested  on  tlie  means  which  he  could  reach. 
An  express  was  despatched  to  General  Winches-  ' 
ter,  apprizing  him  of  what  had  liappened  ;  that,  all  , 
communication  being  cut  off,  he  must  look  to  the  pro- 
curing supplies  for  his  army  from  Tennessee  River 
through  the  posts  established  in  the  Creek  country. 
"  The  enemy,"  he  continues,  "  will  attempt,  through  ' 
Pass  Huron,  to  reach  you  :  watch,  nor  suffer  your-  ] 
self  to  be  surprised  ;  haste,  and  throw  sufficient  sup-  ! 
plies  into  Fort  Bowyer,  and  guard  vigilantly  the  i 
communication  from  Fort  Jackson,  lest  it  be  de-  j 
etroyed.    Mobile  Point  must  be  supported  and  de- 
fended at  every  hazard.    The  enemy  has  given  us  i 
a  large  coast  to  guard  ;  but  I  trust,  with  the  smiles  ! 
of  Heaven,  to  be  able  to  meet  and  defeat  him  at  ! 
every  point  he  may  venture  his  foot  upon  the  land."  ' 

Increased  vigilance  was  now  required  to  guard  i 
the  different  routes  through  which  they  might  make 
their  progress,  and  reach  the  object  of  their  visit  j 
Major  Lacoste,  commanding  the  battalion  of  colour  j 
ed  troops,  was  ordered,  with  two  pieces  of  cannon  j 
and  a  sufficient  force,  to  defend  the  Chef  Menteur  | 
road,  that  led  from  the  head  of  Lake  Borgne  to  New  , 
Orleans.    In  fact,  wherever  an  inlet  or  creek,  of  ; 
the  smallest  size,  justified  the  belief,  that  through  i 
it  an  entrance  might  be  effected,  arrangements  i 
were  made  to  prevent  approach.  Through  the  Rigo- 
lets  was  presumed  the  most  probable  route  the  I 
enemy  would  adventure,  that,  by  gaining  Lake  Pont-  | 
chartrain,  a  landing  might  be  made  above  or  below 
the  city,  or  at  Bayou  St.  John,  directly  opposite. 

This  plare  had  been  confided  to  Captain  New- 
man, of  the  artillery.    It  was  ao  important  point. 


I 


LIFE   OF  GENERAL  JACKSON.  215 

as  well  for  the  purposes  already  named,  as  being  a 
position  whence  any  movement  on  the  lakes  could 
be  discovered.  On  the  22d,  it  was  re-enforced  by 
several'heavy  pieces  of  cannon,  and  an  additional 
supply  of  men.  He  was  advised  by  the  general 
of  tiie  consequence  attached  to  it,  and  that  it  was 
not  to  be  inconsiderately  yielded  ;  but  that,  in  the 
event  of  his  being  compelled  to  abandon  it,  every 
thing  being  properly  secured,  he  was  to  make  good 
his  retreat  to  Chef  Menteur,  where  he  would  be 
covered  by  an  additional  force  :  "  But,"  added  he, 
"  you  are  not  to  retreat  until  your  judgment  is  well 
convinced  that  it  is  absolutely  necessary  to  the  very 
salvation  of  your  command." 

On  the  16th  the  militia  were  reviewed  by  Jack- 
eon.  He  had  perceived,  on  his  arrival  at  New 
Orleans,  such  despondency  manifested  by  the  peo- 
ple, that  to  remove  it  had  called  forth  all  his  exer- 
tions. His  incessant  endeavours  to  have  defended 
every  accessible  point,  and  a  confidence,  constantly 
evinced,  that  his  resources  were  commensurate  with 
all  the  purposes  of  successful  resistance,  had  com- 
pletely undermined  those  fears,  at  first  so  generally 
indulged.  Lest,  from  the  loss  which  had  lately  hap- 
pened on  the  lakes,  a  similar  state  of  doubt  might 
be  again  produced,  was  the  principal  cause  of  ap- 
pearing before  them  to-day  on  review ;  to  convince 
them,  by  his  deportment,  that  the  safety  of  the  city 
was  not  to  be  despaired  of.  He  directed  an  ad- 
dress to  be  read  to  them.  It  was  drawn  in  lan- 
guage breathing  the  warmth  of  liis  own  feelmga, 
and  well  calculated  to  inspire  the  same  glow  to 
others.  He  told  them  they  were  contending  for  all 
that  could  render  life  desirable — "  for  your  property 
and  lives ; — for  those  who  aie  dearer  than  all,  your 


SI6  LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON. 

Wives  and  children  ; — for  liberty,  without  which,  i 
country, life  and  property  are  not  worth  possessing.  [ 
Even  the  embraces  of  wives  and  children  are  a 
reproach  to  the  wretch  who  would  deprive  them, 
by  his  cowardice,  of  those  inestimable  blessings. 
You  are  to  contend  with  an  enemy,  who  seeks  tc 
deprive  you  of  the  least  of  these — who  avows  a  ! 
war  of  desolation,  marked  by  cruelties,  lusts,  and 
horrors,  unknown  to  civilized  nations." 

That  the  hour  of  attack  was  not  distant  was  con- 
firmed by  a  circumstance  which  reflects  no  consid- 
erable honour  on  the  officer  in  command  of  the 
fleet    The  day  subsequent  to  the  contest  on  the 
lakes,  Mr.  Shields,  purser  in  the  navy,  had  been 
despatched  with  a  flag  to  Cat  Island,  accompanied 
by  Dr.  Murrell,  for  the  purpose  of  alleviating  the  I 
situation  Of  our  wounded,  and  to  effect  a  negotia-  i 
tion,  by  which  they  should  be  liberated  on  parole.  ' 
We  are  not  aware  that  such  an  application  militat-  ] 
ed  against  the  usages  of  war  :  if  not,  the  flag  of  | 
truce  should  have  been  respected ;  nor  ought  ita  : 
bearer  to  have  been  detained  as  a  prisoner.    Ad-  ■ 
miral  Cochrane's  pretended  fear  that  it  was  a  wile,  | 
designed  to  ascertain  his  strength  and  situation,  is  ! 
fer  from  presenting  any  sufficient  excuse  for  so 
wanton  an  outrage  on  tlie  rules  of  war.    If  this 
were  apprehended,  could  not  the  messengers  have  ! 
been  met  at  a  distance  from  the  fleet,  and  ordered  [ 
back  without  a  near  approach  ?    Had  this  been  • 
done,  no  information  could  have  been  gained,  and 
the  object  designed  to  be  secured  by  the  detention  ' 
Would  have  been  answered,  without  infringing  that  j 
ttaicable  intercourse  between  contending  armies,  j 
itidet^  when  disregarded,  opens  a  doer  to  brutal 


i 

I 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON  217 


ind  savage  warfare.  Findinjj  thuy  did  not  return, 
\lie  cause  of  it  was  at  once  correctly  divined. 

The  British  admiral  resorted  to  various  means  to 
obtain  from  these  gentlemen  information  of  tlie 
Btrengtli  and  disposition  of  our  army ;  but  so  cau- 
tious a  reserve  was  maintained,  that  nothing  could  be 
elicited.  Shields  was  perceived  to  be  quite  deaf, 
and,  calculating  on  some  advantage  to  be  derived 
from  this  circumstance,  he  and  the  doctor  were 
placed  at  night  in  the  green  room,  where  any  conver- 
sation which  occurred  between  them  could  readily  be 
heard.  Suspecting  something  of  the  kind,  after  hav- 
ing retired,  and  every  thing  was  seemingly  stUl,  they 
began  to  speak  of  their  situation — the  circumstance 
of  their  being  detained,  and  of  the  prudent  caution 
with  which  they  had  guarded  themselves  against 
communicating  any  information  to  the  British  admi- 
ral. "  But,"  continued  Shields,  "  how  greatly  these 
gentlemen  will  be  disappointed  in  their  expecta- 
tions !  for  Jackson,  with  the  twenty  thousand  troops 
he  now  has,  and  the  re-enforcements  from  Kentucky, 
which  must  speedily  reach  him,  will  be  able  to  de- 
stroy any  force  that  can  be  landed  from  those  ships." 
Every  word  was  heard,  and  treasured  ;  and,  not  sup- 
posing there  was  any  design,  or  that  he  presumed 
himself  overheard,  they  were  beguUed  by  it,  and  at 
once  concluded  our  force  to  be  as  great  as  it  was 
represented. 

Early  on  the  15th,  the  morning  after  the  battle 
on  the  lake,  expresses  v/ere  sent  up  the  coast,  in 
quest  of  General  Coffee,  to  procuie  information  of 
the  Kentucky  and  Tennessee  divisions,  which,  it 
was  hoped,  were  not  far  distant.  In  his  communi- 
cation to  Coffee,  the  general  observes,  "You  must 
not  sleep  until  you  reach  me,  or  arrive  within  strik- 
19 


218  LIFE   OF   OENERAI,  JACKSUN 


ing  distance.    Your  accustomed  activity  is  looked 
for.  Innumerable  defiles  present  thoniselves,  wliere 
your  services  and  riflemen  will  be  all-impoilant.  I 
An  opportunity  is  at  hand,  to  reap  for  yourself  and  ! 
brigade  the  approbation  of  your  country."  [ 
In  obedience  to  the  order  he  had  received  at  Mo-  i 
bile  to  occupy  some  central  position,  where  his  horses  j 
could  be  subsisted.  Coffee  had  proceeded  as  far  as  j 
Sandy  Creek,  a  small  distance  above  Baton  Rouge,  \ 
where  he  had  halted.    His  brigade  on  its  march  had  j 
been  greatly  exposed,  and  many  hardships  encoun- 
tered.   The  cold  season  had  set  in  ;  and,  for  twenty 
days,  it  had  rained  incessantly.    The  waters  were 
raised  to  uncommon  heights,  and  every  creek  and 
bayou  was  to  be  bridged  or  swam.    Added  to  this, 
their  march  was  through  an  uncultivated  country, 
but  thinly  settled,  where  little  subsistence  was  to  be 
had,  and  that  procured  with  much  difficulty.  He 
had  been  at  this  place  eight  or  ten  days,  when,  late 
on  the  evening  of  the  17th,  the  express  from  head- 
quarters reached  him.    He  lost  no  time  in  execut-  ; 
ing  the  order  ;  and,  directing  one  of  his  regiments,  j 
which,  for  the  greater  convenience  of  foraging,  had  ! 
encamped  about  six  miles  off,  to  unite  with  him,  j 
he  proceeded  on  his  march  the  instant  it  arrived,  i 
In  consequence  of  innumerable  exposures,  there  i 
were,  at  this  time,  three  hundred  on  the  sick  list.  ' 
These  being  left,  he  commenced  his  advance  with 
twelve  hundred  and  fifty  men.    The  weather  con 
tinued  extremely  cold  and  rainy,  which  preventei 
their  proceeding  with  the  celerity  the  exigency  (A  I 
the  moment  required.    Coffee,  perceiving  that  tht 
movement  of  his  whole  force,  in  a  body,  would  oc 
casion  delays,  ruinous  to  Uie  object,  ordered  all,  wh«  i 
were  able  to  proceed,  to  advance  with  him ;  whik  l 


UFB  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON.  219 


the  rest  of  his  brigade,  under  suitable  officers,  were 
left  to  follow  as  fast  as  the  weak  and  exhausted 
condition  of  their  horses  would  permit.  His  force, 
by  this  arrangement,  was  reduced  to  eight  hundred 
men,  with  whom  he  niovpd  with  the  utmost  indus- 
try. Having  marched  seventy  miles  the  last  day, 
he  encamped,  on  the  night  of  the  19th,  within  fifteen 
miles  of  New  Orleans,  making  in  two  days  a  dis- 
tance of  one  hundred  and  twenty  miles  Continu- 
ing his  advance,  early  next  morning  he  halted 
within  four  miles  of  the  city,  to  exanune  the  condi 
tion  of  his  arms,  and  to  learn,  in  tlie  event  the  enemy 
had  landed,  the  relative  position  of  the  two  armies. 

On  inspecting  their  arms,  which  consisted  princi 
pally  of  rifles,  two  hundred  were  discovered  to  be 
80  materially  injured  by  the  weather,  as  to  be  unlit 
for  service. 

The  advance  of  Colonel  Hinds,  from  Woodville, 
with  the  Mississippi  dragoons,  was  no  less  expedi- 
tious ;  an  active  officer,  he  was,  on  this,  as  on  all 
other  occasions,  at  his  post,  ready  to  act  as  circum- 
etances  should  require.  Having  received  his  or- 
ders, he  effected,  in  four  days,  a  march  of  two  hun- 
dred and  thirty  miles. 

On  the  16th,  Colonel  Hynes,  aid-de-camp  to  Gen- 
eral Carroll,  reached  head-quarters,  with  informa- 
tion from  the  general,  that  he  would  be  present  as 
early  as  possible ;  but  tliat  the  state  of  the  weather, 
and  high  and  contrary  winds,  greatly  retarded  his 
progress.  To  remedy  tliis,  a  steam-boat  was  im- 
mediately put  in  requisition,  and  ordered  to  proceed 
up  the  river  to  aid  him  in  reaching  his  destination, 
without  loss  of  time.  He  was  advised  of  the  neces- 
sity of  hastening  rapidly  forward  ;  that  the  lakes 
•rere  in  possession  of  the  enemy^and  their  arrival 


220 


LIFE   OF  GENERAL  JACKSON. 


daily  looked  for  ;  "  But,"  continued  Jackson,  "  I  am 
esolved,  feeble  as  my  force  is,  to  assail  hira,  on  hio 
f  rst  landing,  and  perish  sooner  tlian  he  shall  reach 
the  city." 

Independent  of  the  lai-je  force  which  was  de- 
scending with  General  Carroll,  his  approach  wati 
looked  to  with  additional  pleasure,  from  the  circum- 
stance of  his  having  with  him  a  boat  laden  with 
arms,  destined  for  the  defence  of  the  country,  and 
which  he  had  overtaken  on  his  passage  down  the 
Mississippi.  His  falling  in  with  them  was  fortu- 
nate ;  for,  had  their  arrival  depended  on  those  to 
whom  they  had  been  incautiously  confided,  they 
might  have  come  too  late,  and  after  all  danger  had 
subsided  ;  as  was  indeed  the  case  with  others  for- 
warded from  Pittsburg,  which,  through  tlie  unpar- 
donable conduct  of  those  who  had  been  intrusted 
with  their  transportation,  did  not  reach  New  Or- 
leans until  all  difficulties  had  terminated.  Great  in- 
convenience was  sustained,  during  the  siege,  for  want 
of  arms  to  place  in  the  hands  of  the  militia.  Great 
as  it  was,  it  would  have  been  increased,  even  to  an 
alarming  extent,  but  for  the  accidental  circumstance 
of  this  boat  having  fallen  into  the  hands  of  the  Ten- 
nessee division,  which  impelled  it  on,  and  thercbj 
produced  incalculable  advantage. 

This  division  left  Nashville  on  the  19th  of  No- 
vember. Their  exertions  entitle  them  and  theij 
commander  to  every  gratitude.  But  above  all  is  oui 
gratitude  due  to  that  benign  Providence,  who,  hav- 
ing aided  in  the  establishment  of  our  glorious  inde- 
pendence, again  manifested  his  goodness  and  power 
in  guarding  the  rights  of  a  country  rendered  sacred 
by  the  blood  of  the  virtuous,  heretofore  shed  in  ita 
defence.    It  rarely,  if  ev«r,  happens,  that  the  Cum- 


LIFB   OF   GENERAL  JACKBON.  221 

berland  river  admits  a  passag-e  for  boats  so  eariy  in 
the  season;  but  torrents  of  rain  descending  swelled 
the  stream,  and  wafted  our  troops  safely  to  the  Mis- 
sissippi, where  all  obstructions  were  at  an  end. 

While  these  preparations  were  progressing,  to 
concentrate  the  forces  within  his  reach,  the  gene- 
ral was  turning  his  attention  to  ward  off  any  blow 
that  might  be  aimed  before  his  expected  reenforce- 
ments  should  arrive.  Every  point  capable  of  being 
successfully  assailed  was  receiving  such  additional 
security  as  could  be  given.  Patrols  and  videttes 
were  ranged  through  the  country,  that  the  earliest 
intelligence  might  be  had  of  any  intended  move 
ment.  The  militia  of  the  state  were  called  out  en 
masse  ;  and,  through  the  interference  of  the  legis 
lature,  an  embargo  on  vessels  at  the  port  of  New 
Orleans  was  declared,  to  afford  an  opportunity  of 
procuring  additional  recruits  for  the  navy.  Gener 
al  Villery,  because  an  inhabitant  of  the  country,  ana 
best  understanding  the  several  points  on  the  lakes 
requiring  defence,  was  ordered,  with  the  Louisiana 
militia,  to  search  out,  and  give  protection  to  the  dif- 
ferent passes,  where  a  landing  might  be  effected. 

To  hinder  the  enemy  from  obtaining  supplies 
on  shore,  a  detachment  was  sent  to  Pearl  Rivei 
to  prevent  any  parties  from  landing  until  tht 
stock  could  be  driven  from  the  neighbourhood 
The  precaution,  for  some  time  used,  of  restricting 
the  departure  of  any  vessel  with  provisions,  under 
the  operation  of  the  embargo  imposed  by  the  legis- 
lature, had  greatly  disappointed  the  expectations  of 
the  British,  and  even  introduced  distress  into  Pen- 
sacola,  whence  the  Spaniards  had  been  in  the  habit 
of  procuring  their  supplies.  The  governor  had  so- 
licited the  opening  a  communication,  for  the  relief 
19* 


222 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON. 


of  the  suffering  inliabitaiits  of  his  province.  Jack- 
son was  aware  that  this  appeal  to  his  liumanity 
might  be  a  stratagem,  having  for  its  object  to  aid 
the  enemy.  Although  the  governor,  hitherto,  had 
given  no  flattering  evidence,  either  of  his  friend- 
ship or  sincerity,  stiU  the  statement  offered  by  him 
might  be  correct ;  and,  if  so,  the  neutrality  of  his 
country  established  a  well-founded  claim  to  the  be- 
nevolence of  the  Americans.  Balancing  between 
a  desire  that  these  people  should  not  be  seriously 
mjured,  and  a  fear  that  the  appncation  wea  intended 
for  a  very  different  purpose,  he  determined  to  err 
on  the  side  of  mercy,  and,  as  far  as  possible,  relieve 
their  wants.  This  he  directed  General  Winches- 
ter, at  Mobile,  to  effect,  provided  his  stock  of  pro- 
visions would  permit  it.  It  was  particularly  enjoin- 
ed on  him  that  the  quantity  of  provisions  sent  should 
be  small,  and  be  conveyed  by  water  :  "  For  if,"  said 
he,  "  the  Spaniards  are  really  in  distress,  and  the 
supply  sent  shall  be  taken  by  the  British,  it  will  ex- 
cite their  just  indignation  towards  them,  and  erase 
all  friendship,  while  they  will  be  afforded  an  addi- 
tional proof  of  ours  :  the  supply,  too,  being  incon- 
siderable, even  if  captured,  will  prove  of  no  great 
benefit  to  our  enemy." 

Jackson's  arrangements  were  well  conceived,  and 
rapidly  progressing  ;  but  they  were  still  insufficient; 
and  his  own  forebodings  assured  him,  that,  to  ob- 
tain security,  something  stronger  required  to  be 
adopted.  That  there  was  an  enemy  in  the  midst  of 
his  camp,  more  to  be  feared  thanthose  who  were  men- 
acing from  abroad,  was,  indeed,  probable.  A  stran* 
ger  himself,  his  conjectures  might  not  have  led  to 
the  conclusion ;  but  information  received,  before 
and  soon  afler  his  arrival,  through  different  chan- 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON.  223 


aels,  and  particularly  from  the  governor  of  the  state, 
bad  awakened  a  belief,  that  the  country  was  filled  j 
with  disaffected  persons.    Although  he  had  been  in 
po«session  of  data,  sufficiently  strong  to  confirm  him 
in  the  opinion,  no  urgent  necessity  had  arisen,  ren-  ' 
denng  a  resort  to  rigid  measures  essential  to  the 
general  safety.    Abundant  evidence  of  prevailing  i 
disaffection  had  been  obtained,  through  Governor  | 
Claiborne.    In  a  letter  to  General  Jackson,  aftei  I 
his  return  from  Pensacola,  he  observed,  "  Enemies  ' 
to  the  country  may  blame  your  prompt  and  ener-  j 
getic  measures  ;  but  in  the  person  of  every  patriot 
you  will  find  a  supporter.    I  am  well  aware  of  the  j 
lax  police  of  this  city,  and  indeed  of  the  whole  state, 
with  respect  to  strangers.    I  think,  with  you,  that  i 
our  country  is  fiUed  '  with  traitors  and  spies.'    On  I 
this  subject,  I  have  written  pressingly  to  the  city  ] 
authorities  and  parish  judges.    Some  regulations,  I 
I  liope,  will  be  adopted  by  the  first,  and  greater 
vigilance  be  exercised,  in  future,  by  the  latter." 

Xever,  perhaps,  all  the  circumstances  considered, 
(lid  any  genera]  advance  to  the  defence  and  pro 
tcctiou  of  a  people,  situated  in  his  own  country 
where  greater  room  was  had  to  distrust  the  succes^ 
of  the  event,  and  believe  all  efforts  hopeless.  Whep 
(k'neral  Jackson  was  informed  by  the  governor^ 
t!iat  tlie  legislature,  instead  of  discharging  with  i 
aUcrity,  diligence,  and  good  faith,  the  duties  which  ] 
had  been  confided  to  them  by  their  constituents,  i 
bad,  under  the  garb  of  privilege,  endeavoured  to 
mar  the  execution  of  measures  the  most  salutary,  : 
he  might  well  conclude  the  country  in  danger,  and  j 
tLspect  a  want  of  fidelity  in  her  citizens.  Upon  the 
yeomanry  alone  must  every  country  depend  for  its 
liberty  :  Uioy  are  its  sinews  and  its  strength.    Lei  j 


224  LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON. 


them  continue  virtuous,  and  they  will  cheerfully 
nay,  fearlessly,  maintain  themselves  against  aggres- 
sion ;  but  if  they  become  corrupted,  or,  through  the 
intrigue  or  misconduct  of  their  rulers,  lose  confi- 
dence in  their  government,  their  hnportance  will 
be  impaired.  While  the  people  of  Rome  felt  them- 
selves freemen,  and  proud  of  the  name  of  citizens, 
Rome  was  invincible  ;  and,  to  descend  to  times 
more  modern,  the  strength  of  France  was  an  over- 
match for  combined  Europe  only  while  Frenchmen 
had  confidence  and  regard  for  their  govermnent. 

Constitutional  resources  were  attempted,  and  an 
effort  made  to  draw  out  the  militia  :  tliey  resisted 
the  requisition  ;  and  that  resistance,  so  far  from  be- 
ing discountenanced  by  the  legislature  tJien  in  ces- 
sion, was  encouraged  by  their  assuming  to  them- 
selves the  right  of  declaring  t  he  demand  to  be  illegal, 
unnecessary,  and  oppressive.  Thus  supported,  the 
militia,  as  might  have  been  expected,  stood  their 
ground,  and  resolutely  resisted  the  call  to  defend 
their  country.  The  example  thus  established  had 
already  induced  the  conviction  that  they  were  privi- 
leged persons,  and  had  reserved  to  them,  on  all  oc- 
casions, when  called  for,  the  right  of  determining 
if  tlie  call  were  regular,  why  and  wlierefore  made, 
where  they  would  prefer  to  act,  and  be  governed 
accordingly.  When,  therefore,  the  first  requisition 
made  by  Jackson  vi-as  attempted  to  be  filled,  a 
number  made  a  tender  of  their  services  as  volun- 
teers ;  but  on  this  condition,  that  they  were  not  to 
be  marched  from  the  state.  The  reply  made  show- 
ed they  were  to  act  with  a  general  who  knew  noth- 
ing of  temporizing  policy,  and  who  would  go  the 
entire  length  that  safety  and  necessity  required. 
They  were  assured  his  object  was  to  defend  the 


LIFE   OP  GENERAL  JACKSON.  225 

counti7,  and  that  he  should  do  it  at  every  hazard  ;  ^ 
that  soldiers  who  entered  the  ranks  with  him,  to  | 
fight  the  battles  of  their  country,  must  forget  the 
habits  of  social  life,  and  be  willing  and  prepared  to 
go  wherever  duty  and  danger  called  ;  such  were 
the  kind  of  troops  he  wanted,  and  none  others  would 
he  have. 

Influenced  by  these  and  other  considerations,  | 
which  were  daily  disclosed  ;  sensible  of  the  danger  j 
that  surrounded  him ;  and  from  a  conviction  which  j 
he  felt  was  founded  not  upon  light  considerations,  j 
that  the  country,  without  a  most  decisive  course,  j 
could  not  be  saved,  he  brought  to  the  view  of  : 
*he  legislature  the  necessity  of  suspending  the  writ  | 
of  habeas  corpus.    To  attempt  himself  so  new  and  j 
bold  a  course,  he  was  satisfied,  would  draw  to  him 
the  reproofs  and  censures  of  the  orthodox  politicians  j 
of  the  day,  and  involve  him  in  various  reproaches 
The  legislature  had  already  interrupted  the  com-  , 
merce  by  declaring  and  enforcing  an  embargo  ;  and  ' 
the  exercise  of  this  subsequent  authority,  equally 
necessary  with  the  first,  could  involve,  he  supposed.  i 
no  higher  exercise  of  power  than  the  enactment  of  i 
an  embargo  law.    He  was  solicitous,  therefore,  to  j 
relieve  himself  of  the  responsibility,  by  prevailing 
on  the  legislature  to  do  that  which  necessity  and  , 
the  security  of  the  country  seemed  imperiously  to  i 
require.    They  proceeded  slowly  to  the  investiga  j 
tion,  and  were  deliberating,  with  great  caution,  upon 
their  right,  authority,  and  constitutional  power  to  ; 
adopt  such  a  measure,  when  the  general,  sensible 
that  procrastination  was  dangerous,  and  might  de- 
feat the  objects  intended  to  be  answered,  assumed 
all  responsibility,  and  superseded  their  deliberations  ' 


i 


326  LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON.  | 

by  declaring  the  city  and  environs  of  New  Orleans 
under  martial  law. 

All  persons  entering  the  city  were  required,  im- 
mediately, to  report  themselves  to  the  adjutant-gen- 
eral ;  and,  on  failing  to  do  so,  were  to  be  arrested 
and  detained  for  examination.    None  were  to  de-  I 
part  from  it,  or  be  suffered  to  pass  beyond  the  chain  I 
of  sentinels,  but  by  permission  from  the  command- 
ing general,  or  one  of  tlie  staff :  nor  was  any  vessel 
or  craft  to  be  permitted  to  sail  on  the  river,  or  the  | 
lakes,  but  by  the  same  authority,  or  a  passport  sign- 
ed by  the  commander  of  the  naval  forcesi. 

The  lamps  were  to  be  extinguished  at  nine 
o'clock  at  night ;  after  which  time,  all  persona 
found  in  the  streets,  or  from  their  respective  homes, 
without  permission  in  writing,  signed  as  above,  were 
to  be  arrested  as  spies,  and  detained  for  exami-  i 
nation.  I 

At  a  crisis  so  important,  and  from  a  persuasion  \ 
that  the  country,  in  its  menaced  situation,  could  not  j 
be  preserved  by  the  exercise  of  any  ordinary  1 
powers,  he  believed  it  best  to  adopt  a  course  that  i 
should  be  efficient,  even  if  it  partially  enoangered  I 
the  rights  and  privileges  of  the  citizen.  He  pro-  j 
claimed  martial  law,  believing  necessity  and  policy  \ 
required  it ;  "  under  a  solemn  conviction  that  the  , 
country,  committed  to  his  care,  could  by  such  a  • 
measure  alone  be  saved  from  utter  ruin  ;  and  from  i 
a  religious  belief,  that  he  was  performing  the  most  ' 
important  duty.  By  it  he  intended  to  supersede 
such  civil  powers,  as,  m  their  operation,  interfered  \ 
with  those  he  was  obliged  to  exercise.  He  thought  ^ 
that,  at  such  a  moment,  constitutional  forms  should  j 
be  suspended,  for  the  preservation  of  constitutionai  I 


LIFE  OP  GENERAL  JACKSON.  227 


rights ;  and  that  there  could  be  no  question,  whether 
U  were  better  to  depart,  for  a  moment,  from  the 
enjoyment  of  our  dearest  privileges,  or  to  have  them 
wrested  from  us  for  ever." 

This  rigid  course,  however,  was  by  no  means 
well  received.  Whether  it  had  for  its  object  good 
or  evil ;  whether  springing  from  necessity,  or  from 
a  spirit  of  oppression  in  its  author,  with  many,  was 
not  a  material  question :  it  was  sufficient  for  them 
to  consider  it  an  infraction  of  the  law,  to  excite 
their  warmest  opposition  ;  whilst  the  long-approved 
doctrine  of  nectssitas  rei  afforded  no  substantial 
argument  to  induce  a  conviction  of  its  propriety. 
Whether  the  civO  should  yield  to  military  law,  or 
which  should  have  control,  with  those  whose  anx- 
ious wishes  were  for  the  safety  of  the  state,  was  not 
a  matter  of  deep  or  serious  concern  ;  but  to  busy  pol- 
iticians it  opened  a  field  for  investigation :  and  many 
a  fire-side  patriot  had  arguments  at  command,  to 
prove  it  an  usurpation  of  power,  an  outrage  upon 
government,  and  a  violation  of  the  constitution. 
During  the  invasion,  and  whUe  affairs  of  major  im- 
portance impended,  no  occasion  was  presented  of 
testing  its  correctness ;  but,  soon  as  the  enemy  had 
retired,  and  before  it  was  ascertained  whether,  at 
some  more  fortunate  and  less  guarded  point,  they 
might  not  return,  to  renew  those  efforts  which  had 
so  lately  failed,  Dominick  A.  HaU,  judge  of  the 
United  States'  court  for  this  district,  determined  to 
wage  a  war  of  authority,  and  to  have  it  decided,  if,  in 
any  event,  the  civil  power  could  be  deprived  of  su- 
premacy. Jackson  presumed  his  time  of  too  much 
importance,  at  so  momentous  a  period,  to  be  wasted 
in  the  discussion  of  civil  matters.  He  gave  to  it, 
therefore,  the  only  attention  which  he  believed  its 


228 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON. 


officiousness  merited,  and,  instead  of  obeying  the 
command,  ordered  the  judge  to  leave  the  city. 
Peace  being  restored,  and  danger  over,  the  judge 
renewed  the  contest ;  and,  causing  the  general  to 
appear  before  him,  on  a  process  of  contempt,  for 
detaining  and  refusing  to  obey  a  writ  of  habeas 
corpus,  which  had  been  directed  to  him,  amerced 
him  in  a  fine  of  a  thousand  dollars.  How  far  he 
was  actuated  by  correct  motives,  in  exclusion  of 
those  feelings  which  sometimes  estrange  the  judg- 
ment, his  own  conscience  can  determine :  and 
how  far  his  proceedings  were  fair  and  liberal,  will 
appear  hereafter,  when,  in  proper  order,  we  exam- 
ine this  prosecution.  For  the  present,  we  are  con- 
fident, that,  if  ever  there  was  a  case  that  could  jus- 
tify or  excuse  a  departure  from  the  law,  its  features 
were  not  stronger  than  those  which  influenced  Gen- 
eral Jackson,  on  the  present  occasion,  in  suspend- 
ing the  rights  of  the  citizens.  If  Judge  Hall  were 
impelled  to  the  course  he  took,  in  defence  of  the 
violated  dignity  of  the  constitution,  and  to  protect 
the  rights  of  a  government,  whose  judicial  powers 
he  represented,  whether  right  or  wrong,  he  de- 
serves not  censure  ;  although  it  might  be  well  re- 
plied, that  a  fairer  opportunity  of  showing  his  devot- 
edness  to  his  country  had  just  passed,  when  he  might 
truly  have  aided  in  defence  of  her  honour,  nor  left 
even  room  foi  his  motives  to  have  been  unfairly 
appreciatnd 

Learning  the  rumours  that  had  been  propagated, 
and  fearing  lest  they  might  have  an  injurious  ten- 
dency, Jackson  immediately  circulated  an  address 
to  his  troops,  in  which  he  sought  to  counteract  the 
effect,  and  preserve  their  ardour  and  devotion  t« 
their  country. 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON.  229 

"  Believe  not,"  he  observed,  "  that  the  threaten- 
ed invasion  is  with  a  view  V  restore  the  country  to 
Spain.  It  is  founded  in  design,  and  a  supposition 
that  you  would  be  willing  to  return  to  your  ancient 
government  Listen  not  to  such  mcredible  tales  : 
your  government  is  at  peace  with  Spain.  It  is  your 
vital  enemy,  the  common  enemy  of  m  aukind,  the 
highway  robber  of  the  world,  that  has  sent  his  hire- 
lings among  you,  to  put  you  from  your  guard,  that 
you  may  fall  an  easier  prey.  Then  look  to  your 
liberty,  your  property,  the  chastity  of  your  wives 
and  daughters.  Take  a  retrospect  of  the  conduct 
of  the  British  army  at  Hampton,  and  at  other  places, 
where  it  has  entered  our  country — and  every  bosom, 
which  glows  with  patriotism  and  virtue,  wUl  be  in- 
spired with  indignation,  and  pant  for  tlie  arrival  of 
the  hour  when  we  shall  meet  and  revenge  those 
outrages  against  the  laws  of  civilization  and  hu 
manity." 

With  the  exception  of  the  Kentucky  troops,  all 
the  forces  expected  had  arrived.  General  Carroll 
had  reached  Coffee's  encaimpment,  four  miles  above 
the  city,  on  the  21st,  and  had  immediately  reported 
to  the  commanding  general.  The  officers  were 
busily  engaged  in  drilling,  manoeuvring,  and  or- 
ganizing the  troops,  and  in  having  every  thing 
ready  for  action.  No  doubt  was  entertained,  but 
the  British  would  be  able  to  effect  a  landing  at 
some  point:  the  principal  thing  to  be  guarded 
tgainst  was  not  to  prevent  it ;  fcr,  since  tlie  loss  of 
the  gun-boats,  any  attempt  of  this  kind  could  only 
be  regarded  as  hopeless .  but,  by  preserving  a  coi.- 
rtant  vigilance,  they  might  be  met  at  the  verv 
threshold.  Small  guard-boats  v;ere  constantly  ply  - 
ing  on  the  lakes,  to  give  infurinatioD  of  every  move  • 
20 


230  LIFE   or   OENEKAL  JACKSON. 


ment.    Some  of  these  had  come  in,  late  on  the 
evening  of  the  22d,  ai.d  reported  that  all  was  quiet,  ! 
and  that  no  unfavourable  appearance  portended  in  i 
that  direction.    With  such  vigilance,  constantly  ' 
exercised,  it  is  astonishing  that  the  enemy  should 
have  effected  an  invasion,  and  succeeded  in  disem- 
barking so  large  a  force,  without  the  shj^h<:est  inti  ' 
mution  being  had,  until  tliey  wore  accidwf.tiliy  dis 
covered  emerging  from  the  swamp,  abuut  seven 
miles  below  the  city.    The  general  impicrtision  is. 
that  it  was  through  information  given  b)  a  small  j 
party  of  Spanish  fishermen,  that  so  secret  a  disei  i-  : 
bnrkation  was  effected.    Several  of  tlieni  hid  set-  i 
tied  at  tlie  mouth  of  this  bayou,  and  supported  iheui- 
selves  by  fish  which  they  caught,  and  vended  in  the  ■ 
market  at  New  Orleans.    Obstructions  had  been  ' 
ordered  to  be  made  on  every  inlet,  and  the  Louis-  j 
iana  militia  were  despatched  for  that  purpose.   This  , 
place  had  not  received  the  attention  its  importance  \ 
merited  ;  nor  was  it  until  the  2'2d,  that  General  Vil-  ' 
lery,  charged  with  the  execution  of  this  order,  had  [ 
placed  here  a  small  detachment  of  men.  Towards 
day,  the  enemy,  silently  proceeding  up  the  bayou,  ; 
landed,  and  succeeded  in  capturing  the  whole  of  ; 
this  party  but  two,  who,  fleeing  to  the  swamp,  en-  j 
deavoured  to  reach  the  city  ;  but,  owing  to  the  i! 
thick  undergrowth  and  briers,  they  did  not  arrive  J 
until  after  the  enemy  had  reached  the  banks  of  the 
Mississippi,  and  been  discovered.  , 

Bayou  Bienvenu,  through  which  the  British  ef- 
fected  a  landing,  is  an  arm  of  considerable  width, 
stretching   towards   the   Mississippi   from  Lake 
Borgne,  and  abo'it  fifteen  miles  south-east  of  New  ^ 
Orleans.   It  had  been  reported  to  General  Jackson  i 
on  the  23d,  that,  on  the  day  before,  several  strange  I 


LIFE  OP  GENERAL   JACKSON.  231 


Bail  had  been  descried  off  Terre  au  BcEuf.  To  as- 
certain correctiy  the  truth  of  tlie  statement,  Majors 
Tatum  and  Latour,  topographical  engineers,  were 
sent,  with  orders  to  proceed  in  tliat  direction,  and 
learn  if  any  thing  were  attempting  tliere.  It  was 
towards  noon  of  the  23d,  when  they  started.  Ap- 
proaching General  ViUery's  plantation,  and  perceiv- 
ing at  a  distance  soldiers  and  persotj  fleeing  away, 
they  at  once  supposed  the  enemy  had  arrived. 
What,  however,  was  but  surmise,  was  presently 
rendered  certain  ;  and  it  was  now  no  longer  a  doubt, 
but  the  British  had  landed,  in  considerable  force, 
and  had  actually  gained,  unobserved,  the  house  of 
General  Villery,  on  the  bank  of  the  Mississippi, 
where  they  had  surprised,  and  made  prisoners,  a 
company  of  nulitia,  there  posted. 

Major  Tatura,  hastening  back,  announced  his 
discovery.  Preparations  to  act  were  immediately 
made  by  General  Jackson.  Believing  that  to  act 
speedily  was  of  the  highest  importance,  the  signal 
guns  were  fired,  and  expresses  sent  forward,  to 
concentrate  his  forces ;  resolving  that  night  to 
meet  the  invaders,  and  try  his  own  and  their  firm- 
ness. 


232  LIFE  or  GENERAL  JACKSON. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

Gmtml  Jackson  concenirales  Itis  forces,  and  marcha  to  JigU  Ihe 
enany, — Alarms  of  the  city. — Aitecaot^. — Mode  of  aUack,  and 
battle  of  the  23ff  of  Oecfmher. — Bi'Uish  re-enforcements  arrive 
during  the  action. — Ariicolof  General  Carrolts  division. — Our 
army  retires  from  tlie field. — EjfecU  of  this  battle. — Jackson  es- 
tablishes a  line  of  defence. —  Generai  Mors^an  is  ordered  on  the 
i'iglit  bank  of  tlie  Mussissippi. — Destruction  and  loss  of  the  Car- 
oline schooner. — Battle  of  tlie  Wlh  December. — Conduct  of  the 
legislature  of  Louisiana  ;  ttieir  deliberations  suspended. — Scar- 
city of  arms  in  the  American  cajnp. — Colonel  Hinds. 

The  hour  to  test  the  bravery  of  his  troopg  ar- 
rived. The  approach  of  the  enemy,  flushed  with 
the  hope  of  easy  victory,  was  announced  to  Jackson 
a  little  after  one  o'clock  in  the  afternoon.  He  well 
knew  the  greater  part  of  his  troops  were  inured  to 
fatigue,  while  those  opposed  to  him  had  just  been 
landed  from  a  long  voyage,  and  were  without  ac- 
tivity, and  unfitted  for  bodily  exertion.  Moreover, 
a  part  only  miglit  have  arrived  fi'om  the  shipping', 
wliile  the  remainder  would  be  certainly  disembark- 
ed as  early  as  possible.  These  circumstances 
seemed  to  augment,  in  his  behalf,  the  chances  of 
victory.  lie  resolved,  at  all  events,  to  march,  and 
that  night  give  thom  battle.  Generals  Coffee  and 
Carroll  were  ordered  to  proceed  immediately  from 
their  encampment,  and  join  him.  Although  four 
miles  above,  they  arrived  in  the  city  in  less  than 
two  hours  after  tlie  order  had  been  issued.  These 
forces,  with  the  seventh  and  forty-fourth  regiments, 
the  Louisiana  troops,  and  Colonel  Hinds'  dragoons, 
from  Mississippi,  constituted  the  strength  of  his 
army,  which  could  be  carried  into  action  against  i  i 


LIFE  or  GENERAL  JACKSON. 


233 


enemy  whose  numbers,  at  tliis  time,  could  only  be 
conjectured.  It  was  thought  advisable  that  Gen- 
eral Carroll  and  his  division  should  be  disposed  in 
the  rear,  for  the  reason  that  there  was  no  correct 
information  of  the  force  landed  through  Villery's 
Canal,  and  because  Jackson  feared  that  this  proba- 
bly might  be  merely  a  feint,  intended  to  divert  his 
attention,  while  a  more  numerous  division,  having 
already  gained  some  point  higher  on  the  lake,  might, 
by  advancing  in  his  absence,  gain  his  rear,  and  suc- 
ceed in  their  designs.  Uncertain  of  their  move- 
ments, it  was  essential  lie  should  be  prepared  for 
the  worst,  and,  by  different  dispositions  of  his 
troops,  be  ready  to  resist,  in  whatever  quarter  he 
might  be  assailed.  Carroll,  therefore,  at  the  head 
of  iiis  division,  and  Governor  Claiborne,  with  the 
state  militia,  were  directed  to  take  post  on  the 
Gpntilly  road,  which  leads  from  Chef  Menteur  to 
New  Orleans,  and  to  defend  it  to  the  last  extremity. 

Alarm  pervaded  the  city.  The  marching  and 
countermarching  of  the  troops,  the  proximity  of  the 
enemy,  with  the  approaching  contest,  and  uncer- 
tainty of  the  issue,  had  excited  a  general  fear. 
Colonel  Hayne,  with  two  companies  of  riflemen, 
and  the  Mississippi  dragoons,  was  sent  forward  to 
reconnoitre  their  camp,  learn  their  position  and 
numbers ;  and,  in  the  event  they  should  be  found 
advancing,  to  harass  and  oppose  them  at  every 
step,  until  the  main  body  should  arrive. 

Every  thing  being  ready.  General  Jackson  com- 
menced his  march  to  meet  the  veteran  troops  of 
England.  An  inconsiderable  circumstance,  at  this 
moment,  evinced  what  unlimited  confidence  was  re 
posed  in  his  bravery.  As  his  troops  were  marching 
through  the  city,  his  ears  were  assailed  with  the 
20* 


234  LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON. 


screams  and  cries  of  innumeraWe  females,  who  had 
collected  on  the  way,  and  seemed  to  apprehend  the 
worst  of  consequences.  Feeling  for  their  distress- 
es, and  anxious  to  quiet  them,  he  directed  Mr.  Liv- 
ingston, one  of  liis  aids-de-camp,  to  address  thera 
in  the  French  language.  "Suy  to  them,"  said  he, 
"  not  to  be  alarmed  .  the  enemy  shall  never  reach 
the  city."  It  operated  like  an  electric  shock.  To 
know  that  he  himself  v/as  not  apprehensive  of  a  fatal 
result,  inspired  them  witli  altered  feelings ;  sorrow 
was  ended,  and  their  grief  converted  into  confidence. 

The  general  arrived  in  view  of  the  enemy  a  lit- 
tle before  dark.  Having  ascertained  from  Colonel 
Hayne  their  position,  and  that  their  strength  waa 
about  two  thousand  men,*  he  immediately  concert- 
ed the  mode  of  attack,  and  hastened  to  execute  it 
Commodore  Patterson,  who  comiii:inded  the  naval 
forces  on  this  station,  with  Captain  Uenly,  on  board, 
the  Caroline,  had  been  directed  to  drop  down,  an-i. 
chor  in  front  of  their  line,  and  open  upon  them  fronv 
the  guns  of  the  schooner  :  this  being  the  appointed 
signal,  when  given,  the  attack  was  to  be  waged 
simultaneously  on  all  sides.  The  fires  from  their 
camp  disclosed  their  position,  and  sliowed  their  en- 
campment, formed  with  the  left  resting  on  the  riv- 
er, and  extending  at  riglit  angles  into  the  open 
field.  General  Coffee,  with  liis  brigade,  Colonei 
Hinds'  dragoons,  and  Captain  Beal's  company  of 
riflemen,  were  ordered  to  oblique  to  the  left,  and, 
by  a  circuitous  route,  avoid  their  pickets,  and  en- 
deavour to  turn  their  right  wing  ;  having  succeed- 

*  Thisopinion,  as  it  aftenvards  appeared,  was  incorrect.  The 
immber  of  the  enemy,  at  tlie  coninjencement  of  the  action,  waj 
three  tliousand,  and  v.  as  shortly  alierwards  increased  by  a«ldIliou- 
ai  forces :  our  strength  did  not  exceed  Iwo  tliousaiid. 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON.             235  ! 

J 

in  this,  to  form  his  line,  and  press  tlie  enemy  to- 
wards the  river,  where  they  would  be  exposed  more  i 
completely  to  the  fire  of  the  Caroline.    The  rest  of  ' 
the  troops,  consisting  of  the  regulars,  Ploache'a 
city  volunteers,  Daquin's  coloured  troops,  the  artil- 
lery under  Lieutenant  Spotts,  supported  by  a  compa-  ] 
ny  of  marines  commanded  by  Colonel  M'Kee,  ad- 
vanced on  the  road  along  the  bank  of  the  Missis-  ! 
eippi,  and  were  commanded  by  Jackson  in  person.  i 

General  ColFee  with  caution  had  advanced  be- 
yond their  pickets,  next  the  swamp,  and  nearly  | 
reached  the  point  to  which  he  was  ordered,  when  a  : 
l)roadside  from  the  Caroline  announced  the  battle 
begun.     Patterson  had  proceeded  slowly,  giving  I 
time,  as  he  believed,  for  the  execution  of  those  ar-  I 
rangements  contemplated  on  the  shore.    So  san-  i 
jguine  had  the  British  been  in  the  belief  that  they  ' 
would  be  kindly  received,  and  little  opposition  at-  | 
<tempted,  that  the  Caroline  floated  by  the  sentinels,  I 
and  anchored  before  their  camp,  without  any  kind  ; 
.of  molestation.    On  passing  the  front  picket,  she  ] 
was  hailed  in  a  low  tone  of  voice,  but,  not  returning  I 
an  answer,  no  further  question  was  made.    This,  I 
added  to  some  other  circumstances,  confirmed  the 
opinion  that  they  believed  her  a  vessel  laden  with  i 
provisions,  which  had  been  sent  out  from  New  Or- 
leans, and  was  intended  for  them.    Having  reach 
ed  what,  from  their  fires,  appeared  to  be  the  centre 
of  their  encampment,  her  anchors  were  cast,  and 
her  character  and  business  disclosed  from  her  guns  , 
So  unexpected  an  attack  produced  a  momentarj  j 
confusion  ;  but,  recovering,  she  was  answered  by  i  ' 
discharge  of  musketry,  and  flight  of  congreve  rock-  i 
ets,  which  passed  without  injury,  while  the  grape 
.and  canister  from  her  guns  were  pouring  destruc  | 


I 


236  LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON. 


lively  on  them.  To  take  away  the  certainty  of  aim 
afforded  by  the  light  from  their  fires,  these  were 
immediately  extinguished,  and  they  retired  two  or 
three  hundred  yards  into  the  open  field,  if  not  out 
of  the  reach  of  the  cannon,  at  least  to  a  distance 
where,  by  the  darkness  of  the  night,  they  would  be 
protected. 

Coffee  had  dismounted  his  men,  and  turned  hia 
horses  loose,  at  a  In.rge  ditch,  nfext  the  swamp,  in  the 
rear  of  Larond's  plantation,  and  gained,  as  he  be- 
lieved, tlie  centre  of  the  enemy's  line,  when  the  sig- 
nal from  the  Caroline  reached  him.  He  directly 
wheeled  his  columns  in,  and,  extending  his  line  par- 
allel with  the  river,  moved  towards  their  camp. 
He  had  advanced  scarcely  more  than  a  hundred 
yards,  when  he  received  a  heavy  fire  from  a  line 
formed  in  his  front ;  this,  to  iiim,  was  unexpected, 
as  he  supposed  the  enemy  lying  principally  at  a 
distance,  and  that  the  only  opposition  he  should 
meet,  until  he  approached  towardy  the  levee,*  would 
be  from  their  advanced  pickets.  Tiie  circumstance 
of  his  coming  in  contact  witli  them  so  soon  was 
owing  to  the  severe  attack  of  the  schooner,  which 
had  compelled  the  enemy  to  abandon  their  camp, 
and  form  without  tlie  reach  of  her  guns.  The 
moon  shone,  but  reflected  her  light  too  feebly  to 
discover  objects  at  a  distance.  Tlie  only  means, 
therefore,  of  producing  certain  effect,  with  the  kind 
of  force  engaged,  which  consisted  chiefly  of  rifle- 

•  Banks  thrown  up  on  the  margin  of  the  river  to  confine  the 
stream  to  its  bed ;  and  which  are  extended  along  the  Mississippi 
on  botli  sides,  from  the  termiiialion  of  llie  hiiihlaiids,  near  Baton 
Rouge.  Frequently  the  river,  in  its  vernal  Hoods,  rises  al)Ovc  the 
elevation  of  the  plains,  and  then  the  security  of  the  country 
depends  on  the  strength  of  those  levees  :  they  not  imfrequeot 

Dreak,  wheu  incalculable  injtny  is  the  consctjucnce. 


LIFE  OP  GENERAL  JACKSON.  237 

men,  was  not  to  venture  at  random,  but  to  discharge 
their  pieces  only  when  there  should  be  a  certainty 
of  felling  the  object.  This  order  being  given,  the 
line  pressed  on,  and,  having  gained  a  position  near 
enough  to  dlHinguish,  a  general  fire  was  given  .  it 
was  well  directed,  and  too  destructive  to  be  with- 
stood :  the  enemy  gave  way,  and  retreated, — ral- 
lied,— formed, — were  charged,  and  again  retreated. 
Our  gallant  yeomanry,  led  by  their  brave  command  • 
er,  urged  fearlessly  on,  and  drove  their  invaders 
from  every  position  they  attempted  to  maintain. 

The  enemy,  driven  back  by  the  resolute  firmnessi 
of  the  assailants,  had  now  reached  a  grove  of  orange 
trees,  with  a  ditch  running  past  it,  protected  by  a 
fence  on  the  margin.  Here  they  halted,  and  form- 
ed for  battle.  It  was  a  position  promising  securi 
ty,  aind  was  occupied  with  confidence.  Coffee's 
dauntless  yeomanry,  strengthened  in  their  hopes  of 
success,  moved  on,  nor  discovered  the  advantages 
against  them,  imtil  a  fire  from  tlie  entire  British 
Ime  showed  their  position.  A  sudden  check  was 
given  ;  but  it  was  only  momentary  ;  for,  gathering 
fresh  ardour,  they  charged  across  the  ditch,  gave  a 
deadly  fiie,  and  forced  them  to  retire.  The  retreat 
continued,  until,  gaining  a  similar  position,  the  ene- 
my made  another  stand,  and  were  again  driven  from 
it  with  considerpble  loss. 

Thus  the  battle  raged  on  the  left  wing,  until  the 
British  reacned  the  bank  of  the  river ;  here  a  de- 
termined stand  was  made,  and  further  encroach- 
ments resisted ;  for  half  an  hour  the  conflict  was 
extremely  violent  on  both  sides.  The  American 
troops  could  not  be  driven  from  their  purpose,  nor 
the  British  made  to  yield  their  ground :  but  at 
length,  having  suffered  greatly,  the  latter  were  an- 


238 


LIFE  OF  GF.NERAL  JACKSON. 


der  the  necessity  of  taking  refuge  behind  the  levee, 
which  afforded  a  breast-work,  and  protected  theni 
from  the  fatal  fire  of  our  riflemen.  Coffee,  unac- 
quainted with  their  position,  for  tlie  darkness  had 
greatly  increased,  already  contemplated  again  to 
charge  them ;  but  one  of  his  oflTicers,  who  Jiad  dis- 
covered the  advantage  their  situation  gave  them, 
assured  him  it  was  too  hazardous  ;  that  they  could 
be  driven  no  farther,  and  would,  from  tlie  point  they 
occupied,  resist  with  the  bayonet,  and  repel,  with 
considerable  loss,  any  attempt  that  might  be  made 
to  dislodge  them.  The  place  of  their  retirement 
was  covered  in  front  by  a  strong  bank,  which  had 
been  extended  into  the  field,  to  keep  out  the  river, 
in  consecjuence  of  the  first  being  encroached  upon, 
and  undermined  in  several  places  :  the  former,  liow- 
ever,  was  still  entire  in  many  parts,  which,  inter- 
posing between  them  and  the  Mississippi,  afforded  se- 
curity from  the  broadsides  of  the  schooner,  which 
lay  off  at  some  distance.  A  further  apprehension, 
lest,  by  moving  still  nearer  to  the  river,  he  might 
greatly  expose  himself  to  the  fire  of  the  Caroline, 
which  was  yet  spiritedly  maintaining  the  conflict, 
induced  Coffee  to  retire  until  he  could  hear  from 
the  commanding  general,  and  receive  his  orders. 

During  this  time,  the  right  wing,  under  Jackson, 
had  been  no  less  active.  A  detachment  of  artille- 
ry, under  Lieutenant  Spotts,  supported  by  sixty  ma- 
rines, constituting  the  advance,  had  .noved  down 
the  -oad  next  the  levee.  On  their  left  was  the 
seventh  regiment  of  infantry,  led  by  Major  Piere. 
The  forty-fourth,  commanded  by  Major  Baker,  was 
formed  on  the  extreme  left ;  while  Plauche's  and 
Daquin's  battalions  of  city  guards  were  directed 
to  be  posted  in  the  centre,  between  the  seventh  and 


UFB  OF  GENERAL   JACKSOIT.  239 


forty-fourth.  The  general  had  ordered  Colonel 
Ross,  who,  during  the  night,  acted  in  the  capacity 
of  brigadier-general, — for  he  was  without  a  briga- 
ilier, — on  hearing  the  signal  from  the  Caroline,  to 
move  off  by  heads  of  companies,  and,  on  reaching 
the  enemy's  line,  to  deploy,  and  unite  the  left  wing 
of  his  command  with  the  right  of  General  Coffee's. 
This  order  was  omitted  to  be  executed  ;  and  the 
consequence  was  confusion  in  the  ranks. 

Instead  of  n  oving  in  column  from  the  first  posi- 
tion, the  troops,  with  the  exception  of  the  seventh 
regiment,  next  the  person  of  the  general,  which 
advanced  agreeably  to  the  instructions  that  had 
been  given,  were  formed  and  marched  in  extended 
line.  Having  sufficient  ground  to  form  on  at  first, 
no  inconvenience  was  at  the  moment  sustained  ;  but, 
this  advantage  presently  failing,  the  centre  became 
compressed,  amd  was  forced  in  the  rear.  The  river, 
from  where  they  were  formed,  gradually  inclined  to 
the  left,  and  diminished  the  space  originally  pos- 
sessed :  farther  in  stood  Larond's  house,  surround- 
ed by  a  grove  of  clustered  orange  trees  ;  this  press- 
ing the  left,  and  the  river  the  right  wing  to  the  cen- 
tre, formed  a  curve,  which  presently  threw  the  prin- 
cipal partof  Plauche's  and  Daquin's  battalions  with- 
out the  line.  This  inconvenience  might  have  been 
remedied,  but  for  the  briskness  of  the  advance,  and 
for  the  darkness  of  the  night.  A  heavy  fire  from 
behind  a  fence,  immediately  before  them,  had 
brought  the  enemy  to  view.  Acting  in  obedience 
to  their  orders  not  to  waste  their  ammunition  at 
random,  our  troops  had  pressed  forward  against  the 
opposition  Ln  their  front,  and  thereby  threw  those 
battalions  in  the  rear. 


240  LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON.  ^ 

A  fog  rising  from  the  river,  which,  added  to  the  ' 
smoke  from  the  guns,  was  covering  the  plain  grad- 
ually, diminished  the  little  light  shed  by  the  moon, 
and  greatly  increased  the  darkness  of  the  night 
no  clue  was  left  to  ascertain  how  the  enemy  were 
situated.    There  was  no  alternative  but  to  move  on 
in  the  direction  of  their  fire,  which  subjected  the  ' 
assailants  to  material  disadvantages.    Tlie  British,  | 
driven  from  their  first  position,  had  retired  back,  j 
and  occupied  another,  behind  a  deep  ditch,  thatraa  j 
out  of  the  Mississippi  towards  the  swamp,  on  tlie  ' 
margin  of  which  was  a  wood  railed  fence.    Here^  I 
strengthened  b}'  increased  numbers,  they  again  op-  ] 
posed  the  advance  of  our  troops.    Having  waited 
until  they  had  approached  sufficiently  near  to  be-  I 
discovered,  they  discharged  a  fire  upon  the  advanc-  ' 
ing  army.    Instantly  our  battery  was  formed,  and  | 
poured  destructively  upon  them ;  while  the  infan-  | 
try,  pressing  forward,  aided  in  the  conflict,  which  a*"  | 
this  point  was  for  some  time  spiritedly  maintained.  1 
At  this  moment,  a  brisk  sally  was  made  upon  ouj  J 
advance,  when  the  marines,  unequal  to  the  assault  I 
were  already  giving  way.    The  adjutant-general,.  1 
and  Colonels  Piatt  and  Chotard,  with  a  part  of  the  | 
seventh,  hastening  to  their  support,  drove  the  ene-  i 
my,  and  saved  the  artillery  from  capture.  Genera* 
Jackson,  perceiving  the  decided  advantages  which-  > 
were  derived  from  the  position  they  occupied,  or-  ^ 
dered  their  line  to  be  charged.    It  was  obeyed  and 
executed  with  promptness.    Pressing  on,  our  troops- 
gained  the  ditch,  and,  pouring  across  it  a  we'l-aim-  j 
ed  fire,  compelled  them  to  retreat,  and  abandon  < 
their  entrenchment.    The  plain,  on  which  they  i 
were  contending,  was  cut  to  pieces,  by  races  from-  ' 
the  river,  to  convey  the  water  to  the  swamp.    The  ' 


A 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON.  241 


enemy  were,  therefore,  very  soon  enabled  to  occu- 
py another  position,  equally  favourable  with  the  one 
whence  they  had  been  just  driven,  where  they  form- 
ed for  battle,  and,  for  some  time,  gallantly  main- 
tained themselves  ;  but  which,  after  stubborn  resist- 
ance, they  were  forced  to  yield. 

The  enemy,  discovering  the  obstinate  advance 
made  by  the  right  wing  of  the  American  army,  and  pre- 
suming perhaps  that  its  principal  strength  was  post- 
ed on  the  road,  formed  the  intention  of  attacking 
violently  the  left.  Obliquing  for  this  purpose,  an 
attempt  was  made  to  turn  it  At  this  moment,  Da- 
quin's  and  the  battalion  of  city  guards,  being  march- 
ed up,  and  formed  on  the  left  of  the  forty-fourth 
regiment,  repulsed  them. 

The  particular  moment  of  the  contest  prevented 
many  of  those  benefits,  which  might  have  been  de- 
rived from  the  artiUery.  The  darkness  of  the  night 
was  such,  that  the  blaze  of  the  enemy's  musketry 
was  the  only  light  afforded,  by  which  to  determine 
thcif  position,  or  be  capable  of  taking  our  own  to 
advantage  ;  yet,  notwithstanding,  it  greatly  annoy- 
ed them,  whenever  it  could  be  brought  to  bear. 
Directed  by  Lieutenant  Spotts,  a  vigilant  and  skil- 
ful officer,  with  men  to  aid  him  who  looked  to  noth- 
ing but  a  zealous  discharge  of  their  duty,  the  most 
important  services  were  rendered. 

The  enemy  had  been  thrice  beaten,  and  for  near- 
ly a  mile  compelled  to  yield  their  ground.  They 
had  now  retired,  and,  if  found,  were  to  be  sought 
for  amidst  the  darkness  of  the  night.  The  gene- 
ral determined  to  halt,  and  ascertain  Coffee's  posi- 
tion and  success,  previously  to  waging  the  battle 
fiirther  ;  for  as  yet  no  communication  had  passed 
between  them.  The  Caroline  had  almost  ceased 
21 


242  LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON. 


her  operations ;  it  being  only  occasionally,  that  tho 
noise  of  her  guns  disclosed  the  little  opportunity 
she  possessed  of  acting  elBciently. 

The  express  despatched  to  General  Jackson  from 
the  left  wing  having  reached  him,  he  determined 
to  prosecute  the  successes  he  had  gained  no  fur- 
ther. The  darkness  of  the  night,  the  confusion 
into  which  his  own  division  had  been  thrown,  and  a 
similar  disaster  produced  on  the  part  of  Coffee, — all 
pointed  to  the  necessity  of  retiring  from  the  field. 
The  bravery  displayed  by  his  troops  had  induced 
a  belief,  that,  by  pressing  forward,  he  might  capture 
the  whole  British  army  :  at  any  rate,  he  considered 
it  but  a  game  of  hazard,  which,  if  unsuccessful,  could 
not  occasion  his  own  defeat.  If  incompetent  to  its 
execution,  and  superior  numbers,  or  superior  disci- 
pline, should  compel  him  to  recede  from  the  effort, 
he  well  knew  the  enemy  would  not  have  temeriQr 
enough  to  attempt  pursuit.  The  extreme  darkuess, 
their  entire  ignorance  of  the  situation  of  the  coun- 
try, and  an  apprehension  lest  their  forces  might 
be  greatly  outnumbered,  afforded  sufficient  reasons 
on  which  to  ground  a  belief,  that,  although  beaten 
from  his  purpose,  he  would  yet  have  it  in  his  power 
to  retire  in  safety  ;  but,  on  the  arrival  of  the  ex- 
press from  General  Coffee,  learning  the  strong  po- 
sition to  which  the  enemy  had  retired,  and  that  a 
part  of  the  left  wing  had  been  detached,  and  were 
in  all  probability  captured,  he  determined  to  retire 
from  the  contest,  nor  attempt  a  further  orosecution 
of  his  successes.  General  Coffee  was  accordingly 
directed  to  withdraw,  and  take  a  position  at  Larond's 
plancation,  where  the  line  had  been  first  formed: 
and  thither  the  troops  oa  the  right  were  also  order- 
ed to  be  marched. 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JAQjCSON.  243 

The  last  charge  made  by  the  left  wing  had  sap 
arated  from  the  main  body  Colonels  Dyer  and  Gib- 
son, with  two  hundred  men,  and  Captain  Beal's  com- 
pany of  riflemen.  What  might  be  their  fate ; 
whether  they  were  captured,  or  had  effected  their 
retreat,  was,  at  this  time,  altogether  uncertain ;  be 
that  as  it  might.  Coffee's  command  was  considera- 
bly weallened. 

Colonel  Dyer,  who  commanded  the  extreme  left, 
on  clearing  the  grove,  after  the  enemy  had  retired, 
was  marching  in  a  direction  where  he  expected  to 
find  General  Coffee :  he  very  soon  discovered  a 
force  in  front,  and,  halting  his  men,  hastened  towards 
it :  arriving  within  a  short  distance,  he  was  hailed, 
ordered  to  stop,  and  report  to  whom  he  belonged  : 
Dyer,  and  Gibson,  his  lieutenant-colonel,  who  ac- 
companied him,  advanced,  and  stated  they  were  of 
Coffee's  brigade :  by  this  time  they  had  arrived 
within  a  short  distance  of  the  Ime,  and,  perceiving 
that  the  name  of  the  brigade  they  had  stated  was 
not  understood,  their  apprehensions  were  awaken- 
ed, lest  it  might  be  a  detachment  of  the  enemy  ;  in 
this  opinion  they  were  immediately  confirmed,  and. 
wheeling  to  return,  were  fired  on  and  pursued. 
Gibson  had  scarcely  started  when  he  fell :  before 
he  could  recover,  a  soldier,  quicker  than  the  rest, 
had  reached  him,  and  pinned  him  to  the  ground 
with  his  bayonet ;  fortunately  the  stab  had  but 
slightly  wounded  him,  and  he  was  only  held  by  his 
clothes  ;  thus  pinioned,  and  perceiving  others  to  be 
briskly  advancing,  but  a  moment  was  left  for  delib- 
eration ; — making  a  violent  exertion,  and  springmg 
to  his  feet,  he  threw  his  assailant  to  the  ground,  and 
made  good  his  retreat.  Colonel  Dyer  had  retreat- 
ed about  fifty  yards,  when  his  horse  dropped  dead  ; 


244  LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON. 


I 


entangled  in  the  fall,  and  slightly  wounded  m  the  | 
thigh,  there  was  little  prospect  of  relief,  for  the  en-  \ 
emy  were  briskly  advancing ;  his  men  being  near 
at  hand,  he  ordered  them  to  advance  and  fire,  which  ; 
checked  their  approach,  and  enabled  him  to  escape,  i 
Being  now  at  the  head  of  his  command,  perceiv-  ' 
ing  an  enemy  in  a  direction  he  had  not  expected,  ! 
and  uncertain  how  or  where  he  might  &ndt  General  I 
Coffee,  he  determined  to  seek  him  to  the  right,  and,  ! 
moving  on  with  his  little  band,  forced  his  way  through  j 
the  enemy's  lines,  with  the  loss  of  sixty-three  oi  , 
his  men,  who  were  kiUed  and  taken.  Captain  Beal  ' 
with  equal  bravery,  charged  through  the  enemy,  car  ; 
rying  off  some  prisoners,  and  losing  several  of  his  ' 
own  company. 

This  re-enforcemeni  of  the  British  had  arrived 
from  Bayou  Bienvenu,  after  night.    The  boats  that 
landed  the  first  detachment,  proceeded  back  to  the  ■ 
shipping,  and,  having  returned,  were  on  their  way  \ 
up  the  bayou,  when  they  heard  the  guns  of  the  j 
Caroline  ;  moving  hastily  on  to  the  assistance  of  i 
those  who  had  debarked  before,  they  reached  the  , 
shore,  and,  knowing  nothing  of  the  situation  of  the 
two  armies,  during  tlie  engagement  advanced  in  the 
rear  of  General  CofFeo's  brigade.    Coming  in  con-  ' 
tact  with  Colonel  Dyer  and  Captain  Beal,  they  filed  '■ 
off  to  the  left,  and  reached  the  British  lines.  j 

This  detached  part  of  Coffee's  brigade,  unable  to 
unite  with,  or  find  him,  retired  to  the  place  where 
they  had  first  formed,  and  joined  Colonel  Hinds' 
dragoons,  which  had  remained  on  the  ground  where 
the  troops  had  first  dismounted,  that  they  might  cov-  ^ 
er  their  retreat,  in  the  event  it  became  necessary. 

Jackson  had  gone  into  this  battle  confident  of 
success ;  and  his  arrangements  were  such  aa  would  I 


I 


LIFE  OF  GF.NERAL  JACKSON.  245 

have  ensured  it,  even  to  a  much  greater  extent,  but 
for  the  intervention  of  circumstances  that  were  not, 
and  could  not  be  foreseen.  The  Caroline  had  giv- 
en her  signals,  and  commenced  the  battle,  a  little 
too  early,  before  Coftee  had  reached  his  position, 
and  before  every  thing  was  fully  in  readiness  to  at- 
tain the  objects  designed  :  but  it  was  chiefly  owing 
to  the  confusion  introduced  at  first  into  the  ranks, 
which  checked  the  rapidity  of  his  advance,  gave 
the  enemy  time  for  preparation,  and  prevented  hia 
division  from  uniting  with  the  right  wing  of  Gener- 
al Cofiee's  brigade. 

Colonel  Hinds,  with  one  hundred  and  eighty  dra- 
goons, was  not  brought  into  action  during  the  night. 
Interspersed  as  the  plain  was  with  innumerable 
ditches,  diverging  in  different  directions,  it  was  im- 
f)ossible  that  cavalry  could  act  to  any  kind  of  ad- 
vantage :  they  were  now  formed  in  advance,  to 
watch,  until  morning,  the  movements  of  the  enemy. 

From  the  experiment  just  made,  Jackson  believ- 
ed it  would  be  in  his  power,  on  renewing  the  attack, 
•o  capture  the  British  army :  he  concluded,  there- 
fore, to  order  down  to  his  assistance  General  Car- 
roll with  his  division,  and  to  assail  them  again  at 
the  dawn  of  day.  Directing  Governor  Claiborne 
to  remain  at  his  post,  with  the  Louisiana  militia,  for 
the  defence  of  an  important  pass  to  the  city,  the 
Gentilly  road,  he  despatched  an  express  to  Carroll, 
stating  to  him,  that,  in  the  event  there  had  been  no 
appearance  of  a  force  during  the  night,  in  the  di- 
rection of  Chef  Menteur,  to  join  him  with  the  troops 
under  his  command:  this  <irder  was  executed  by 
one  o'clock  in  the  morning.  ■  Previously,  however  i 
to  his  arrival,  a  different  determination  was  niadr. 
From  prisoners  who  had  been  brought  in,  and  throu  r;  n 
21  * 


>46  LIFE  OF  GENEHAL  JACKSON.  j 

deserters,  it  was  ascertained  that  the  strength  cf 
the  enemy,  during  the  battle,  was  four  thousand,  ' 
and,  with  the  re-enforcements  which  had  reached  ; 
them,  after  its  commencement,  and  during  the  ac-  ' 
tion,  their  force  could  r<)t  be  less  than  six: — at  any  I 
rate,  it  would  greatly  e^  "eed  his  own,  even  after 
the  Tennessee  division  should  be  added.  Although  ' 
very  decided  advantages  had  been  obtained,  yet  | 
they  had  been  procured  under  circumstances  that 
might  be  wholly  lost  in  a  contest  waged,  in  open  : 
day,  between  forces  so  disproportionate,  and  by  un-  j 
disciplined  troops,  against  veteran  soldiers.  Jack  , 
son  well  knew  it  was  incumbent  upon  him  to  act  a  ' 
part  entirely  defensive  :  should  the  attempt  to  de-  ■ 
stroy  the  city  succeed,  numerous  difficulties  would  | 
present  themselves,  which  might  be  avoided,  so  long  I 
as  he  could  hold  the  enemy  in  check.  Prompted  ] 
by  these  considerations,  and  believing  it  attainable  ] 
in  no  way  so  effectually  as  in  occupying  some  point,  1 
and,  by  the  strength  he  might  give  it,  compensate 
for  the  inferiority  of  his  numbers,  and  their  want 
of  discipline,  he  determined  to  forbear  all  further 
offensive  efforts  until  he  could  more  certainly  dis-  , 
cover  the  views  of  the  enemy,  and  until  the  Ken-  | 
tucky  troops  should  reach  him.  Pursuing  this  idea,  ] 
at  four  o'clock  in  the  morning,  having  ordered  Co-  j 
lonel  Hinds  to  occupy  the  ground  he  was  then  aban-  I 
doning,  and  to  observe  the  enemy  closely,  he  fell  i 
back,  and  formed  his  line  behind  a  deep  ditch  that  ! 
stretched  to  the  swamp  at  right  angles  from  the  j 
river.  There  were  two  circumstances  recommend-  i 
ing  the  importance  of  this  place  :  the  swamp,  which,  j 
from  the  high  lands,  at  Baton  Rouge,  skirts  the  riv-  i 
er  at  irregular  distances,  and  in  many  places  is  al-  . 
most  impervious,  had  here  approached  within  four 


LIFB  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON.  247 

hundred  yards  of  the  Mississippi,  and  hence,  from 
the  narrowness  of  the  pass,  was  more  easily  to  be 
defended  ;  added  to  which,  there  was  a  deep  canal, 
whence  the  dirt,  being  thrown  on  the  upper  side,  al- 
ready formed  a  tolerable  work  of  defence.  Behind 
thia  his  troops  were  formed,  and  proper  measures 
adopted  for  increasing  its  strength,  with  a  deter- 
mination never  to  abandon  it. 

Promptitude  in  decision,  and  activity  in  execu- 
tion, constituted  the  leading  traits  of  Jackson's  char- 
acter. No  sooner  had  he  resolved  on  the  course 
which  he  thought  necessary  to  be  pursued,  than  with 
every  possible  despatch  he  hastened  to  its  compie- 
tion.  Before  him  was  an  army  proud  of  its  name, 
and  distinguished  for  its  deeds  of  valour  ;  oppos- 
ed to  which  was  his  own  unbending  spirit,  and  an 
inferior,  undisciplined  and  unarmed  force.  He  con- 
ceived, therefore,  that  his  was  a  defensive  policy : 
that,  by  prudence,  he  should  be  able  to  preserve 
what  offensive  operation  might  have  a  tendency  to 
endanger.  Hence,  with  activity  and  industry,  bas- 
ed on  a  hope  of  ultimate  success,  he  commenced  his 
plan  of  defence,  determining  to  fortify  himself  effect- 
ually, as  the  peril  and  pressure  of  the  moment  would 
permit  When  to  expect  attack  he  could  not  tell; 
readiness  to  meet  it  was  for  him  to  determine  on  ;  all 
else  was  for  the  enemy.  Promptly,  therefore,  he  pro- 
ceeded with  his  system  of  defence  ;  and  with  such 
anxiety,  that,  untU  the  night  of  the  27lh,  when  his  line 
was  completed,  he  never  slept,  or  for  a  moment 
closed  his  eyes.  Resting  his  hope  of  safety  here, 
he  was  every  where,  through  the  night,  present,  en- 
couraging his  troops,  and  hastening  a  completion  of 
the  work.  The  excitement  produced  by  the  mighty 
object  before  him  was  such  as  overcame  the  demand 


MS 


UFE  OP  GENERAL  JACKSON. 


of  nature,  and  for  five  days  and  four  nights  he  waa 
without  sleep,  and  constantly  employed.    His  line 
of  defence  being  completed  on  the  night  of  the  | 
27th,  he,  for  the  first  time  since  the  arrival  of  the 
enemy,  retired  to  rest  and  repose. 

The  soldier  who  has  stood  the  shock  of  battle, 
and  knows  what  slight  circumstances  oftentimes 
produce  decided  advantages,  will  be  able  to  appre- 
ciate the  events  of  this  night.    Although  the  dread- 
ful carnage  of  the  8lh  of  January,  hereafter  to  be 
told,  was  in  fact  the  finishing  blow,  that  struck  down  ^ 
the  towering  hopes  of  those  invaders,  yet  in  the  ; 
battle  of  the  23d  is  there  to  be  found  abundant  j 
cause  why  success  resulted  to  our  arms.    The  Brit-  | 
ish  had  reached  the  Mississippi  without  the  fire  of  ■ 
a  gun,  and  encamped  upon  its  banks  as  composed-  , 
ly  as  if  they  had  been  seated  on  their  own  soil.  ' 
These  were  circumstances  which  awakened  a  be  ' 
lief  that  they  expected  little  opposition,  were  cer-  J 
tain  of  success,  and  that  the  troops  with  whom  I 
they  were  to  contend  would  scarcely  venture  to  re- 
sist them :  resting  thus  confidently  in  the  expocta-  | 
tion  of  success,  they  would  the  next  day  have  niov-  j 
ed  forward,  and  succeeded  in  the  accomplishment  j 
of  their  designs.    Jackson,  convinced  that  an  ear-  ( 
ly  impression  was  esseutial  to  ultimate  success;  had  I 
resolved  to  assail  them  at  the  moment  of  their  land-  ] 
ing,  and  "  attack  them  in  their  first  position  :"  we  ' 
have,  therefore,  seen  him,  with  a  force  inferior,  by  " 
one  half,  to  that  of  the  enemy,  at  an  unexpected 
moment,  break  into  their  camp,  and,  with  his  undis- 
ciplined  yeomanry,  drive  before  him  the  pride  of  i 
England,  and  the  conquerors  of  Europe.    It  was 
an  event  that  could  not  fail  to  destroy  all  prerious  j 
theories,  and  establish  a  oonclusion,  which  our  en-  ^ 


1 


LIFR  OF  GENKRAL  JACKSON,  'M9 

emy  had  not  before  formed,  that  they  were  con- 
tending against  valour  inferior  to  none  they  had 
seen ; — ^before  which  their  own  bravery  had  not 
stood,  nor  their  skill  availed  them :  it  had  the  ef- 
fect of  satisfying  them,  that  the  quantity  and  kind 
of  troops  it  was  in  our  power  to  wield,  must  be  dif- 
ferent from  any  thing  that  had  been  represented  to 
them  ;  for,  much  as  they  had  heard  of  the  courage 
of  the  man  with  whom  they  were  contending,  they 
could  not  suppose,  that  a  general,  having  a  country 
to  defend,  and  a  reputation  to  preserve,  would  ven- 
ture to  attack,  on  their  own  chosen  ground,  a  great 
ly  superior  army,  and  one,  which,  by  the  numerous 
victories  it  had  achieved,  had  already  acquired  a 
flime  in  arms ;  they  were  convinced  that  his  force 
must  greatly  surpass  what  they  had  expected,  and 
be  composed  of  materials  different  from  what  they 
had  imagined. 

The  American  troops,  which  were  actually  en- 
gaged, did  not  amount  to  two  thousand  men  :  they 
consisted  of  part  of 

Coffee's  brigade  and  Captain  Beal's  company,  648 
The  7th  and  44th  regiments,  -  -  763 
Company  of  marines  and  artillery,  -  -  82 
Plauche's  and  Daquin's  battalions,  -  488 
And  the  Mississippi  dragoons  under  Colonel  ) 
Hinds,  not  in  the  action,     -      -  ) 

2167* 

which,  for  more  than  an  hour,  maintained  a  severe 
conflict  with  a  force  of  four  or  five  thousand,  and 
retired  in  safety  from  the  ground,  with  the  loss  of 


*  This  statement  may  be  relied  on  ;  it  was  furaUhed  to  the  au- 
thor by  Colonel  Rolieri  Butler,  adjutant-general  of  the  soulliera 
divitioD,  who  assured  him  it  was  correct. 


250  LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON 


! 


but  twenty -four  killed,  one  hundred  and  fifteen 
wounded,  and  seventy-four  made  prisoners  ;  while 
the  killed,  wounded,  and  prisoners,  of  tlie  enemy, 
were  not  less  tlian  four  hundred. 

Our  officers  and  soldiers  executed  every  order 
with  promptitude,  and  nobly  sustained  their  coun- 
try's character.    Lieutenant-Colonel  Lauderdale, 
of  Coffee's  brigade,  an  officer  of  great  promise,  and  ! 
on  whom  every  reliance  was  placed,  fell  at  his  post,  j 
and  at  his  duty :  he  had  entered  the  service,  and  j 
descended  the  river  with  the  volunteers  under  Gen-  i 
eral  Jackson,  in  the  winter  of  1812,  passed  through  i 
all  the  hardships  of  the  Creek  war,  and  had  ever  ' 
manifested  a  readiness  to  act  when  nis  country 
needed  his  services.    Young,  brave,  and  skilful,  he 
had  already  afforded  evidences  of  a  capacity,  which 
might,  in  future,  have  become  useful ;  his  exemplary  - 
conduct,  both  in  civil  and  military  life,  had  acquired  J 
for  him  a  respect,  that  rendered  his  fall  a  subject  i 
of  general  regret.    Lieutenant  M'Lelland,  a  valua- 
ble young  officer  of  the  7th,  was  also  among  the  1 
number  of  the  slain. 

Coffee's  brigade,  during  the  action,  bravely  sup-  , 
ported  the  character  they  had  established.    The  , 
unequal  contest  in  which  they  were  engaged  I'cver  ' 
occurred,  nor,  for  a  moment,  checked  the  rapidity  ! 
of  their  advance.    Had  the  British  known  ^hey  i 
were  riflemen,  without  bayonets,  a  firm  stand  would  ( 
nave  arrested  their  progress,  and  destruction  or  | 
capture  would  have  been  the  inevitable  conse- 
quence ;  but  this  being  unknown,  every  charge 
they  made  was  crowned  with  success.  Officers, 
irom  the  highest  to  inferior  grades,  discharged 
what  had  been  expected  of  tliem.    Ensign  Leach, 
of  the  7th  regiment,  being  wounded  through  tli»  . 


LIFb   OF   GENERAL  JACKSON. 


251 


body,  still  remained  at  his  post,  and  in  the  per- 
formance of  his  duty.  Colonel  Reuben  Kemper, 
amidst  the  confusion  introduced  on  the  left  wing, 
found  himself  at  the  head  of  a  handful  of  men,  de- 
tached from  the  main  body,  and  in  the  midst  of  a 
party  of  the  enemy  :  to  attempt  resistance  was  idle  : 
he  sought  safety  through  stratagem.  Calling  to  a 
group  of  soldiers  who  were  near,  in  a  positive  tone, 
he  demanded  of  them  where  their  regiment  was  : 
lost  themselves,  they  were  unable  to  answer ;  but, 
supposing  him  one  of  their  own  officers,  they  assent- 
ed to  his  orders,  and  followed  him  to  his  own  line, 
where  they  were, made  prisoners. 

The  7th  regiment,  commanded  by  Major  Piere, 
and  the  44th,  under  Major  Baker,  aided  by  Major 
Butler,  gallantly  maintained  the  conflict,  forced  the 
enemy  from  every  secure  position  he  attempted  to 
occupy,  and  drove  him  a  mile  from  the  first  point  of 
attack.  Confiding  in  themselves,  and  their  gene- 
ral, who  was  constantly  with  them,  exposed  to  dan- 
ger, and  in  the  midst  of  the  fight,  inspiring  by  his 
ardour,  and  encouraging  by  his  example,  they  ad- 
vanced to  the  conflict,  nor  evinced  a  disposition  to 
leave  it  until  the  prudence  of  their  commander  di- 
rected them  to  retire. 

From  the  violence  of  the  assault,  the  fears  of  the 
British  had  been  greatly  excited  :  to  keep  their  ap- 
prehensions alive  was  considered  important,  with  a 
Vi<8w  to  destroy  the  overweening  confidence  with 
which  they  had  arrived  on  our  shores,  and  to  com- 
pel them  to  act,  for  a  time,  upon  the  defensive.  To 
effect  tliis,  General  Coffee,  with  hia  brigade,  was 
ordered  down,  on  the  mornin.o'  of  the  24th,  to  unite 
with  Colonel  Hinds,  and  "nake  a  show  in  the  rear 
uf  Lacoste's  plantation    The  enemy,  not  yet  re- 


252 


LIFE  OF  GF.NCKAL  JACKSON. 


covered  of  the  panic  of  the  preceding  evening,  be 
lieved  it  was  in  contemplation  to  urge  another  at- 
taclc,  and  immediately  formed  themselves  to  repel 
it ;  but  Coffee,  having  succeeded  in  recovering  some 
of  his  horses,  which  were  wandering  along  the  mar- 
gin of  the  swamp,  and  in  regaining  part  of  the  cloth 
ing  which  his  troops  had  lost  the  night  before,  re- 
turned to  the  line,  leaving  them  to  conjecture  the 
objects  of  his  movement. 

The  scanty  supply  of  clothes  and  blankets  that 
remained  to  the  soldiers,  from  their  long  and  expos- 
ed marches,  had  been  left  where  they  dismounted 
to  meet  the  enemy.  Their  numbers  were  too  lim- 
ited, and  the  strength  of  their  opponents  too  well 
ascertained,  for  any  part  of  their  force  to  remain 
and  take  care  of  what  was  left  behind  :  it  was  so 
essential  to  hasten  on,  reach  their  destination,  and 
be  ready  to  act  when  the  signal  from  the  Caroline 
should  announce  their  co-operation  necessary,  that 
no  time  was  afforded  them  to  secure  their  horses  ; 
— they  were  turned  loose,  and  their  recovery  trust- 
ed to  chance.  Although  many  were  regained, 
many  were  lost ;  while  most  of  the  men  remained 
with  a  single  suit,  to  encounter,  in  the  open  field, 
and  in  swamps  covered  with  water,  the  hardships 
of  camp,  and  the  severity  of  winter.  It  is  a  circum- 
stance which  entitles  them  to  much  credit,  that, 
under  privations  so  oppressive,  complaints  were 
never  heard.  This  state  of  things  was  not  of  long 
continuance.  The  story  of  their  sufferings  was  no 
sooner  known,  than  the  legislature  appropriated  a 
Bum  of  money  for  their  relief,  which  was  greatly 
increased  by  subscriptions  in  the  city  and  neigh- 
bourhood. Materials  being  purchased,  the  ladies, 
with,  that  warmth  of  heart  chaxacteristk  of  their 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON.  25j 

Bex,  at  once  exerted  themselves  in  removing  theii 
distresses  :  all  their  industry  was  called  into  action, 
and,  in  a  little  time,  the  suffering  soldier  ivas  re- 
lieved. Such  generous  conduct,  in  extending  as- 
sistance at  a  moment  when  it  was  so  much  needed, 
while  it  conferred  on  those  females  the  highest  hon- 
our, could  not  fail  to  nerve  the  arm  of  the  brave 
with  new  zeal  for  the  defence  of  their  benefactress- 
es. This  distinguished  mark  of  their  benevolence 
is  still  remembered  ;  and  often  as  these  valiant  men 
are  heard  to  recount  the  dangers  they  have  passed, 
they  breathe  a  sentiment  of  gratitude  to  those  who 
conferred  upon  them  such  distinguished  marks  of 
their  kindness. 

To  keep  up  a  show  of  resistance,  detachments 
of  light  troops  were  occasionally  kept  in  front  of 
tlie  line,  harassing  the  enemy's  advanced  posts 
whenever  an  opportunity  was  offered.  Every  moment 
that  could  be  gained,  and  every  delay  that  could  be 
extended  to  the  enemy's  attempts  to  reach  the  city, 
was  of  the  utmost  importance.  The  works  were 
rapidly  progressing,  and  hourly  increasing  in 
strength.  The  militia  of  the  state  were  every  day 
arriving,  and  every  day  the  prospect  of  successful 
opposition  was  brightening. 

The  enemy  stOl  remained  at  his  first  encamp- 
ment. To  be  in  readiness  to  repel  an  assault  when 
attempted,  the  most  active  exertions  were  made  on 
the  24th  and  25th.  The  canal,  covering  the  front 
of  our  line,  was  deepened  and  widened,  and  a 
strong  J3ud  wall  formed  of  the  earth  thrown  out 
To  prevent  any  approach  until  his  system  of  defence 
should  be  in  greater  forwardness,  Jackson  ordered 
the  levee  to  be  cut,  about  a  hundred  yards  below 
fie  point  he  had  occupied.  The  river  being  very 
22 


254  LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON. 


high,  a  broad  stream  of  water  passed  rapidly  through 
the  phiin,  of  the  depth  of  thirty  or  forty  inches 
which  prevented  any  approach  of  troops  on  foot. 
Embrasures  were  formed,  and  two  pieces  of  artil- 
lery, under  the  command  of  Lieutenant  Spotts,  ear)y 
on  the  morning  of  the  24th,  were  placed  in  a  posi- 
tion to  rake  the  road  leading  up  the  levee. 

He  was  under  constant  apprehensions,  lest,  in 
spite  of  his  exertions  below,  the  city  might,  through 
some  other  route,  be  reached  ;  and  those  fears  were 
increased  to-day,  by  a  report  that  a  strong  force  had 
arrived,  and  debarked  at  the  head  of  Lake  Borgne. 
This,  however,  proved  to  be  unfounded  :  the  enemy 
had  not  appeared  in  that  direction,  nor  had  the  offi- 
cer, to  whom  was  intrusted  the  command  of  this 
fort,  so  much  relied  on,  forgotten  his  duty,  or  for- 
saken his  post.  Acting  upon  the  statement  that 
Major  Lacoste  had  retired  from  the  fort,  and  fallen 
back  on  Bayou  St.  John,  and  incensed  t-hat  orders, 
which,  from  their  importance,  should  have  been 
faithfully  executed,  had  been  thus  lightly  regarded, 
he  hastened  to  inform  him  what  he  had  understood, 
and  to  forbid  his  leaving  his  position.  "  The  bat- 
tery I  have  placed  under  your  command  must  be 
defended  at  all  hazards.  In  you,  and  the  valour  of 
your  troops,  I  repose  every  confidence  ; — let  me  not 
be  deceived.  With  us  every  thing  goes  on  well : 
the  enemy  has  not  yet  advanced.  Our  troops  have 
covered  themselves  with  glory :  it  is  a  noble  ex- 
ample, and  worthy  to  be  followed  by  all.  Maintain 
your  post,  nor  ever  think  of  retreating."  To  give 
additional  strength  to  a  place  deemed  so  important, 
to  inspire  confidence,  and  ensure  safety.  Colonel 
Dyer  and  two  hundred  men  were  ordered  to  assist 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON.  255  ' 

in  its  defence,  and  act  as  videttes,  in  advance  of  the  i 
occupied  points.  i 

General  Morgan,  who,  at  the  English  Turn,  com-  J 
manded  the  fort  on  the  east  bank  of  the  river,  was  i 
instructed  to  proceed  as  near  the  enemy's  camp  as  ' 
prudence  would  permit,  and,  by  destroying  the  levee, 
to  let  in  the  waters  of  the  Mississippi  between  them 
The  execution  of  this  order,  and  a  similar  one,  pre-  i 
viously  made,  below  the  line  of  defence,  had  entire-  j 
ly  insulated  tlie  enemy,  and  prevented  his  march  | 
against  either  place.    On  the  26th,  however,  the  j 
commanding  general,  fearing  for  tlie  situation  of 
Morgan,  who,  from  the  British  occupying  the  inter-  i 
mediate  ground,  was  entirely  detached  from  his  I 
camp,  directed  him  to  abandon  his  encampment,  ' 
carry  off  such  of  the  cannon  as  might  be  wanted, 
and  throw  the  remainder  into  the  river,  where  they 
could  be  again  recovered  when  the  waters  reced- 
ed ;  to  retire  to  the  other  side  of  the  river,  and  as- 
sume a  position  on  the  right  bank,  nearly  opposite  ] 
to  bis  line,  and  have  it  fortified.    This  movement  | 
was  imposed  by  the  relative  disposition  of  the  two 
armies.    Necessity,  not  choice,  made  it  essential  j 
that  St.  Leon  should  be  abandoned.  j 

From  every  intelligence,  obtained  through  de  , 
serlers  and  prisoners,  it  was  evident  that  the  Britisb 
fleet  would  make  an  effort  to  ascend  the  river,  and 
co-operate  with  the  troops  already  landed.    Lest  ^ 
this,  or  a  diversion  in  a  different  quarter,  might  be  \ 
attempted,  exertions  were  made  to  interpose  such 
defences  on  the  Mississippi  as  might  assure  protec- 
tion.   The  forts  on  the  river,  well  supported  with 
brave  men,  and  heavy  pieces  of  artillery,  might,  I 
perhaps,  have  the  effect  to  deter  their  shipping  from 
venturing  in  that  direction,  and  dispose  them  to  seek  i 


250  LIFE   OF  cr.VKKAL  JACKSON. 


■iome  safer  route,  if  any  could  be  discovered.  Pass 
Barrataria  was  best  calculated  for  tills  purpose.  ! 
The  difficulty  of  ascending  the  Mississippi,  from  the  ' 
rapidity  of  the  current,  its  winding  course,  and  the 
ample  protection  given  at  Forts  St.  Philip  and  Bour-  i 
bon,  were  circumstances  to  which,  it  was  not  to  be 
inferred,  the  British  were  strangers.    It  was  a  , 
more  rational  conjecture  that  they  would  seek  a 
passage  through  Barrataria,  proceed  up  on  the 
right  bank  of  the  river,  and  gain  a  position  whence,  ■ 
co-operating  with  the  forces  on  the  east  side,  they  j 
might  drive  our  troops  from  the  line  they  had  form-  i 
ed.     Major  Reynolds  was  acccordingly  ordered  ' 
thither,  with  instructions  to  place  the  bayous,  emp-  I 
tying  through  this  pass,  in  the  best  possible  state  ] 
of  defence — to  occupy  the  island — to  mount  suffi-  ] 
cient  ordnance,  and  draw  a  chain,  within  cannon-  | 
shot,  across,  and  protect  it  from  approach.    Lafite  ' 
who  had  been  heretofore  promised  pardon  for  the 
outrages  he  had  committed  against  the  laws  of  . 
the  United  States,  was  also  despatched  with  Rey- 
nolds.   He  was  selected,  because  his  knowledge  of  ! 
the  topography  and  precise  situation  of  this  section  j 
of  the  state  was  remarkably  correct :  i*  was  the  I 
point  where  he  had  constantly  rendezvoused,  dur-  | 
ing  the  time  of  cruising  agamst  the  merchant  ves-  \ 
sels  of  Spain,  under  a  commission  obtained  at  Car-  ! 
thagena,  and  where  he  had  become  perfectly  ac-  ] 
quainted  with  every  inlet  and  entrance  to  the  gulf  ; 
through  which  a  passage  could  be  effected.  | 
With  these  arrangements — treason  apart — all  ' 
anxiously  alive  to  the  interest  of  tlie  country,  and  j 
disposed  to  protect  it,  there  was  little  room  to  ap-  ; 
prehend  disaster.   To  use  the  general's  own  expres-  i 
eion,  oil  another  occasion,  "  the  surest  defence,  and 


J 

LIFE  Of  GENERAI.  JACKSON.  2^ 

one  which  seldom  failed  of  success,  was  a  rampart  j 
of  high-minded  and  brave  men."   There  were  some 
of  this  description  with  him,  on  whom  he  could  ' 
safely  rely,  Ln  moments  of  extreme  peril.  ' 

As  yet  the  enemy  were  uninformed  of  the  posi- 
tion of  Jackson.    They  had  been  constantly  engag- 
ed, since  their  landing,  in  procuring  from  their  ship-  ! 
ping  every  thing  necessary  to  ulterior  operations  I 
A  complete  command  on  the  lakes,  and  possession  i 
of  a  point  on  the  margin,  presented  an  uninterrupt  ' 
ed  ingress  and  egress,  and  afforded  the  opportunit}  | 
of  conveying  whatever  was  wanted,  in  perfect  safe-  , 
ty,  to  their  camp.    The  height  of  the  Mississippi, 
and  the  discharge  of  water  through  the  openings 
made  in  the  levee,  had  given  an  increased  depth  to 
the  canal,  from  which  tliey  had  first  debarked,  en-  , 
abled  them  to  advance  their  boats  much  farther,  in 
the  direction  of  their  encampment,  and  to  bring  up 
their  artillery,  bombs,  and  munitions.    Thus  engag-  .1 
ed,  during  the  first  three  days  after  tlieir  arrival  | 
early  on  the  morning  of  the  27th,  a  battery  waa  1 
discovered  on  the  bank  of  the  river,  erected  during 
the  preceding  night,  and  on  which  were  mounted  ; 
several  pieces  of  heavy  ordnance  ;  from  this  position  J 
a  fire  was  opened  on  the  Caroline  schooner,  lying  ' 
Jinder  the  opposite  shore. 

After  the  battle  of  the  23d,  in  which  this  vessel 
had  so  effectually  aided,  she  had  passed  to  the  op-  i 
posite  side  of  the  river,  where  she  had  since  lain.  | 
Her  services  were  too  highly  appreciated  not  to  be 
again  desired,  in  the  event  the  enemy  should  en- 
deavour to  advance.     Her  present  situation  was  | 
considered  unsafe,  but  it  had  been  essayed  in  vain 
to  advance  her  higher  up  the  stream.    No  favoura- 
ole  breeze  had  yet  arisen  to  aid  her  in  stemming  i 
22* 


256  LIFE   OF  (iBNERAL  JACKSON. 


tlie  current ;  and  towing,  and  other  remedies,  had 
been  resorted  to  without  success.  Her  safety  might 
have  been  ensured  by  floating  her  down  the  river, 
and  placing  her  under  cover  of  the  guns  of  the  fort, 
though  it  was  preferred,  as  a  matter  of  policy,  to 
risk  her  where  sJie  was,  hourly  calculating  that  a 
favourable  wind  might  relieve  her,  rather  than,  by 
dropping  her  with  the  current,  lose  those  benefits 
which,  against  an  advance  of  the  enemy,  it  might 
be  in  her  power  to  extend.  Commodore  Patterson 
had  left  her  on  the  26th,  by  the  orders  of  the  general, 
when  Captain  Ilenly  made  a  further,  but  ineffectuai 
effort  to  force  her  up  the  current,  near  the  line,  for 
the  double  purpose  of  its  defence  and  for  her  own 
safety. 

These  attempts  to  remove  her  being  dbcovered 
at  daylight,  on  the  morning  of  the  27th,  a  battery, 
mounting  five  guns,  opened  upon  her,  discharging 
bombs  and  red-hot  shot :  it  was  spiritedly  answered, 
but  without  affecting  the  battery  ;  there  being  but 
a  long  twelve  pounder  that  could  reach.  Tlie  sec- 
ond fire  had  lodged  a  hot  shot  in  the  hold,  directly 
under  her  cables,  whence  it  could  not  be  removed, 
and  wiiere  it  immediately  communicated  fire  to  the 
schooner.  The  shot  from  the  battery  were  con- 
stantly taking  effect,  firing  her  in  different  places ; 
while  the  blaze,  already  kindled  under  her  cables, 
was  rapidly  extending.  A  well-grounded  appre- 
hension of  her  commander,  that  she  could  be  nc 
longer  defended,  induced  a  fear  lest  the  magazine 
should  be  reached,  and  every  thing  destroyed.  One 
of  his  crew  being  killed,  and  six  wounded,  and  not 
a  glimmering  of  hope  entertained  that  she  could  be 
preserved,  orders  were  given  to  abandon  her.  The 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JAOKSON.  259  j 

erew  in  safety  reached  the  shore,  and  in  a  short  | 
time  she  blew  up.  j 
Although  unexpectedly  deprived  of  so  material  ; 
a  dependence,  an  opportunity  was  soon  presented  of  ' 
using  her  brave  crew  to  advantage.  Gathering  I 
confidence  from  what  had  been  just  effected,  the  j 
enemy  left  tlnnr  encampment,  and  moved  in  the  di-  | 
rection  of  our  line.  Their  numbers  had  been  in-  | 
creased,  and  Major-General  Sir  Edward  Packenham 
now  commanded  in  person.  Early  on  the  28th.  his  | 
columns  commenced  their  advance  to  storm  oui  | 
works.  At  the  distance  of  half  a  mile,  their  heavy  i 
artOlery  opened,  and  quantities  of  bombs,  balls,  and  ' 
congreve  rockets,  were  discharged.  It  was  a 
scene  of  terror,  which  they  had  probably  calculat  ! 
ed  would  excite  a  panic  in  the  minds  of  the  raw  ' 
troops  of  our  army,  and  compel  them  to  surrender  j 
at  discretion.  Their  congreve  rockets,  though  a  , 
kind  of  instrument  of  destruction  to  which  our  ' 
troops,  unskilled  in  the  science  of  warfare,  had  beer  | 
hitherto  strangers,  excited  no  other  feeling  than  ! 
that  which  novelty  inspires.  At  the  moment,  there- 
fore, that  the  British,  in  different  columns,  were 
moving  up,  in  all  the  pomp  of  battle,  preceded  by  ' 
these  insignia  of  terror,  more  than  danger,  and  were 
expecting  to  behold  their  "  Yankee  foes"  flee  be- 
fore them,  our  batteries  halted  their  advance.  , 
In  addition  to  the  two  pieces  of  cannon,  mounted  ' 
on  our  works  on  the  24th,  three  othors,  of  heavy  | 
caliber,  obtained  from  the  navy  department,  had  ! 
been  formed  along  the  line  ;  these,  opening  on  the  ' 
enemy,  checked  their  progress,  and  disclosed  to  | 
them  the  hazard  of  the  project  they  were  on.  Lieu-  > 
tenants  Crawley  and  Norris  volunteered,  and,  | 
with  the  crew  of  tlie  Caroline,  maintained,  at  the  j 


260 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON 


I 


guns  they  commanded,  that  firmness  and  decision  ] 
for  which  they  liad  been  so  highly  distinguished. 
They  had  been  selected  by  the  general,  because  of  . 
their  superior  knowledge  in  gunnery,  and,  on  this 
occasion,  gave  a  further  evidence  of  their  skill,  and 
of  a  disposition  to  act  in  any  situation  where  they 
could  be  serviceable.    The  line,  which,  from  the  ' 
labours  bestowed  on  it,  was  daily  strengthening,  ' 
was  not  yet  in  a  situation  effectually  to  resist ;  this  ' 
deficiency,  however,  was  well  remedied  by  the  i 
brave  men  who  were  formed  in  its  rear.  | 
From  the  river  the  greatest  injury  was  effected  j 
Lieutenant  Thompson,  who  commanded  the  Louis-  , 
iana  sloop,  opposite  the  line  of  defence,  no  sooner 
discovered  the  colunms  approaching,  than,  warping 
her  around,  he  brought  her  starboard  guns  to  bear, 
and  forced  them  to  retreat :  but,  from  their  heavy 
artillery,  the  enemy  maintained  the  conflict  with  I 
great  spirit,  constantly  discharging  their  bombs  and 
rockets  for  seven  hours,  when,  unable  to  make  a 
breach,  or  silence  the  fire  from  the  sloop,  they 
abandoned  a  contest  where  few  advantages  seemed  , 
to  be  presented.    The  crew  of  this  vessel  was  com-  1 
posed  of  new  recruits,  and  of  discordant  materials,  | 
— of  soldiers,  citizens,  and  seamen  ;  yet,  by  the  ae-  ! 
tivity  of  their  commander,  were  they  so  well  per-  j 
fected  in  duty,  that  they  already  managed  their  | 
guns  with  the  greatest  certainty  of  effect ;  and,  by  j 
three  o'clock  in  the  evening,  with  the  aid  of  the  ' 
land  batteries,  had  completely  driven  back  the  en- 
emy.   Imboldened  by  the  effect  produced  the  day  | 
before  on  the  Caroline,  the  furnaces  of  the  enemy  j 
were  put  in  operation,  and  numbers  of  hot  shot  ] 
thrown  from  a  heavy  piece,  which  was  protected  by 
the  levee.    An  attempt  was  made  to  carry  it  off.  j 


i 


LIFE  OF  GUNERAL  JACKSON.  261 


In  their  endeavours  to  remove  it,  "  I  saw,"  saya 
Commodore  Patterson,  "  distinctly,  with  the  aid  of 
a  glass,  several  balls  strike  in  the  midst  of  the  men 
who  were  employed  in  dragging  it  away."  In  this 
engagement,  waged  for  seven  hours,  we  received 
little  or  no  injury.  The  Louisiana  sloop,  against 
which  the  most  violent  exertions  were  made,  had 
but  a  single  man  wounded,  by  the  fragments  of  a 
shell,  which  burst  over  her  deck.  Our  entire  loss 
did  not  exceed  nine  killed,  and  eight  or  ten  wound- 
ed. The  enemy,  being  more  exposed,  acting  in 
the  open  field,  and  in  range  of  our  guns,  suffered 
considerable  injury  ;  at  least  one  hundred  and 
twenty  were  killed  and  wounded. 

Among  the  killed,  on  our  side,  was  Colonel  James 
Henderson,  of  the  Tennessee  militia.  An  advance 
party  of  the  British  had,  during  the  action,  taken 
post  behind  a  fence  that  ran  obliquely  to  our  line. 
Henderson,  with  a  detachment  of  two  hundred  men, 
was  sent  out  by  General  Carroll  to  drive  them  from 
a  position  whence  they  were  greatly  annoying  our 
troops.  Had  he  advanced  in  the  manner  directed, 
he  would  have  been  less  exposed,  and  more  effect- 
ually secured  tiie  object  intended ;  but,  misunder- 
standing the  order,  he  proceeded  in  a  different 
route,  and  fell  a  victim  to  his  error.  Instead  of 
marching  in  the  direction  of  the  wood,  and  turning 
the  enemy,  which  might  have  cut  off  their  retreat, 
he  proceeded  in  front,  towards  the  river,  leaving 
them  in  rear  of  the  fence,  and  himself  and  his  detach- 
ment exposed.  His  mistake  being  perceived  from 
the  line,  he  was  called  by  the  adjutant-general,  and 
directed  to  return ;  but  the  noise  of  the  waters, 
through  which  they  were  wading,  prevented  any 
communication.    Having  reached  a  knoU  of  dry 


262  LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON.  | 

ground,  he  attempted  the  execution  of  his  order ,  but  ' 

soon  fell,  by  a  wound  in  the  head.  Deprived  of 
their  commander,  and  perceiving  their  situation 

hazardous,  the  detachment  retreated  to  the  line,  ' 

with  the  loss  of  their  colonel  and  five  men.  ' 

WhUe  this  advance  was  made,  a  coluom  of  the  | 

enemy  was  threatening  our  extreme  left  ;  to  frus-  ] 

trate  the  attempt,  Coftee  was  ordered  with  his  rifle-  i 

men  to  hasten  through  the  woods,  and  check  their  i 

approach.    The  enemy,  greatly  superior  to  him  in  i 
numbers,  no  sooner  discovered  his  movement  than 
they  retired,  and  abandoned  the  attack  they  had 
meditated. 

A  supposed  disaffection  in  New  Orleans,  and  an  I 
enemy  in  front,  were  circumstances  well  calculated  | 
to  excite  unpleasant  forebodings.    General  Jackson  ' 
believed  it  necessary  to  his  security,  while  contend-  I 
ing  with  avowed  foes,  not  to  he  wholly  inattentive  ] 
to  dangers  at  home  ;  but,  by  guarding  vigilantly,  to  | 
be  able  to  suppress  any  treasonable  purpose  the  ( 
moment  it  should  be  developed.    Previously  to  de-  | 
parting  from  tlie  city,  on  the  evening  of  the  23d, 
he  ordered  Major  Butler,  his  aid,  to  remain  with  ' 
the  guards,  and  be  vigilant  that  nothing  transpired 
in  his  absence  calculated  to  operate  injuriously.  His 
fears  that  there  were  many  of  the  inhabitants,  who  1 
felt  no  attachment  to  the  government,  and  would  not  ] 
scruple  to  surrender,  whenever,  prompted  by  their 
interest,  it  should  become  necessary,  have  been  no-  ' 
ticed.  In  this  belief,  subsequent  circumstances  evinc- 
ed there  was  no  mistake,  and  showed  that  to  hiit  i 
energy  is  to  be  ascribed  the  cause  the  country  was  I 
saved.    It  is  a  fict,  which  was  disclosed  on  making  | 
ap  exchange  of  prisoners,  that,  in  despite  of  all  our  [ 
efforts,  the  enemy  were  daily  apprized  of  every  i 

1 


i 


i 

LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON.  263 

I 

ihing  that  transpired  in  our  camp.  Every  arrange-  i 
tnent,  and  every  change  of  position,  was  immediate- 
ly communicated.  "  Nothing,"  remarked  a  British  ] 
officer,  at  the  close  of  the  invasion,  "  was  kept  a  ! 
secret  from  us,  except  your  numbers ;  this,  al-  j 
though  diligently  sought,  could  never  be  procured." 

Between  the  23d  and  the  attack,  on  the  28tli,  to  ■ 
carry  our  line.  Major  Butler,  who  still  remained  in  ; 
the  city,  was  applied  to  by  Fulwar  Skipwith,  speak-  j 
er  of  the  senate,  to  ascertain  the  commanding  gen-  ; 
eral's  views,  provided  he  should  be  driven  from  hia  '■ 
line  of  encampment,  and  compelled   to  retreat 
through  the  city ;  would  he,  in  that  event,  destroy 
it.'  It  was,  indeed,  a  curious  inquiry  from  one  who,  I 
having  spent  his  life  in  serving  his  country,  might  I 
better  have  understood  the  duty  of  a  subordinate  ! 
officer  ;  and  that,  even  if,  from  his  situation.  Major  1 
Butler  had  so  far  acquired  the  confidence  of  hia  ; 
general  as  to  have  become  acquainted  with  his  de- 
signs, he  was  not  at  liberty  to  divulge  them,  with- 
out destroying  confidence,  and  acting  criminally. 
On  asking  the  cause  of  tlie  inquiry,  Mr.  Skipwith 
replied,  it  was  understood  that,  if  driven  from  his 
position,  and  made  to  retreat  upon  the  city.  General  , 
Jackson  had  it  in  contemplation  to  lay  it  in  ruins  ; 
the  legislature,  he  said,  desired  information  on  this  | 
subject,  that,  if  such  were  his  intentions,  they  might, 
by  offering  terms  of  capitulation,  avert  so  serious  a  i 
calamity.    That  a  sentiment,  having  for  its  object  ' 
a  surrender  of  the  city,  should  be  entertained  by  i 
this  body,  was  scarcely  credible  ;  yet  a  few  days 
brought  the  certainty  of  it  more  fully  to  view,  and 
showed  that  they  were  already  devising  plans  to  j 
ensure  the  safety  of  themselves  and  property  at  any 
sacrifice.    While  the  general  was  hastening  along  ! 


264             LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON.  | 

the  line,  from  ordering  Coffee  against  a  column  of 

the  British  on  the  extreme  left,  he  was  hailed  by  | 
Mr.  Duncan,  one  of  hi;  volunteer  aids,  and  informed 
that  it  was  agitated,  secretly,  by  the  members  of 
the  legislature,  to  offer  terms  of  capitulation  to  the 

enemy,  and  proffer  a  surrender  ;  and  that  Governor  j 
Claiborne  awaited  his  orders  on  the  subject.  Poised 

as  was  the  result,  the  safety  or  fall  of  the  city  rest-  ' 

ing  in  uncertainty,  although  it  was  plainly  to  be  ' 

perceived,  that,  with  a  strong  army  before  them,  no  ; 

such  resolution  could  be  carried  into  effect,  yet  it  i 
might  be  productive  of  evil,  and,  in  the  end,  bring 
about  the  most  fatal  consequences.    Even  the  dis- 
closure of  such  a  wish,  on  the  part  of  the  legisla- 
ture, might  create  parties,  excite  opposition  in  tlie 

army,  and  inspire  the  enemy  with  renewed  confi-  i 

dence.    The  Tennessee  forces,  and  Mississippi  vol-  j 
unteers,  it  was  not  feared,  would  be  affected  by  the 
measure  ;  but  it  might  detach  the  Louisiana  militia, 
and  even  extend  itself  to  the  ranks  of  the  regular 

troops.    Jackson  was  greatly  incensed,  that  those,  j 

whose  safety  he  had  so  much  at  heart,  should  be  t 

seeking,  under  the  authority  of  office,  to  mar  his  j 

best  exertions.  He  was,  however,  too  warmly  press-  j 
ed  at  the  moment, — for  the  battle  was  raging, — to 

give  it  the  attention  its  importance  merited  ;  but,  : 

availing  himself  of  the  first  respite  from  the  vio-  j 

lence  of  the  attack  waged  against  him,  he  apprized  ! 

Governor  Claiborne  of  what  he  had  heard  ;  ordered  ' 

him  closely  to  watch  the  conduct  of  the  legislature,  | 

and,  the  moment  the  project  of  offering  a  capitula-  j 

tion  to  the  enemy  should  be  fully  disclosed,  to  place  j 

a  guard  at  the  door,  and  confine  them  to  their  cham-  1 

ber.    The  governor,  in  his  zeal  to  execute  the  com-  i 

mand,  and  from  a  fear  of  the  consequences  involved  \ 

j 

i 

I 
i 


UFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON.  265 


in  such  conduct,  construed  as  imperative  an  order 
which  was  merely  contingent;  and,  placing  an 
armed  force  at  the  door  of  the  capitol,  prevented 
the  members  from  convening,  and  their  schemes 
from  maturing. 

The  purport  of  this  order  was  misconceived  by 
the  governor  ;  or,  perhaps,  with  a  view  to  avoid  siib- 
Eequent  inconveniences,  was  designedly  mistaken. 
Jackson's  object  was  not  to  restrain  the  legislature 
in  the  discharge  of  their  official  duties ;  for,  al- 
though he  thought  that  such  a  moment,  when  the 
sound  of  the  cannon  was  constantly  pealing  in  their 
ears,  was  inauspicious  to  wholesome  legislation,  and 
that  it  would  have  better  comported  with  the  state 
of  the  times  for  them  to  abandon  their  civil  duties, 
and  appear  in  the  field,  yet  was  it  a  matter  indeli- 
cate to  be  proposed  ;  and  it  was  hence  preferred, 
tiiat  they  should  adopt  whatever  course  might  be 
suggested  by  their  own  notions  of  propriety.  This 
sentiment  would  have  been  still  adhered  to  ;  but 
when,  through  the  conmaunication  of  Mr.  Duncan, 
they  were  represented  as  entertaining  schemes  ad- 
verse to  the  general  interest  of  the  country,  the  ne- 
cessity of  a  different  course  of  conduct  was  obvious 
But  he  did  not  order  Governor  Claiborne  to  interfere 
with  their  duties  ;  on  the  contrary,  he  was  instruct- 
ed, so  soon  as  any  thing  hostile  to  the  general 
cause  should  be  ascertained,  to  place  a  guavd  at 
the  door,  and  keep  the  members  to  their  duty.  "  My 
object  in  this,"  remarked  the  general,  « was,  that 
then  they  would  be  able  to  proceed  with  their  business 
without  producing  the  slightest  injury :  whatever 
schemes  they  might  entertain  would  have  remained 
with  themselves,  without  the  power  of  circulating 
them  to  the  prejudice  of  any  other  interest  than 
23 


266  LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON 


their  own.  Claiborne  mistook  my  order,  and,  instead 
of  shutting  them  in  doors,  contrary  to  my  wishes, 
turned  them  out." 

Before  this  he  had  been  called  on  by  a  special 
committee  of  the  legislature  to  know  what  his  course 
would  be,  should  necessity  drive  him  from  his  posi 
tion.  "  If,"  replied  the  general,  "  I  thought  the  hair 
of  my  head  could  divine  what  I  should  do,  I  would 
cut  it  off :  go  back  with  this  answer ;  say  to  your 
honourable  body,  that,  if  disaster  does  overtake  me. 
and  the  fate  of  war  drives  me  from  my  line  to  the 
city,  they  may  expect  to  have  a  very  warm  session." 
"  And  what  did  you  design  to  do,"  one  inquired, "  pro- 
vided you  had  been  forced  to  retreat?"  "I should,' 
he  replied,  "  have  retreated  to  the  city,  fired  it,  and 
fought  the  enemy  amidst  the  surrounding  flames. 
There  were  with  me  men  of  wealth,  owners  of 
considerable  property,  who,  in  such  an  event,  would 
have  been  amongst  the  foremost  to  have  applied  the 
torch  to  their  own  buildings ;  and  what  they  had 
left  undone,  I  should  have  completed.  Nothing  for 
the  comfortable  maintenance  of  the  enemy  would 
have  been  left  in  the  rear.  I  would  have  destroyed 
New  Orleans,  occupied  a  position  above  on  the 
river,  cut  off  all  supplies,  and  in  this  way  compel- 
led them  to  depart  from  the  country." 

We  shall  not  pretend  to  ascribe  this  conduct  to 
disaffection  to  the  government,  or  to  treasonable 
motives.  The  impulse  that  produced  it  was,  no 
doubt,  interest — a  principle  of  the  human  mind 
which  strongly  sways,  and  often  destroys,  its  best 
conclusions.  The  disparity  of  the  two  armies,  in 
numbers,  preparation,  and  disciplin?,  had  excited 
apprehension,  and  destroyed  hope.  If  Jackson 
were  driven  back, — and  little  else  was  looked  for, — 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON.  267 


rumour  fixed  his  determination  of  devoting  the  city 
to  destruction ;  but,  even  if  such  were  not  his  in- 
tention, the  vengeance  of  the  enemy  might  be  fairly 
calculated  to  be  in  proportion  to  the  opposition  they 
should  receive.  The  government  was  represented 
in  the  person  of  the  commanding  general,  on  whom 
rested  all  responsibility,  and  whose  voice,  on  the 
subject  of  resistance  or  capitulation,  should  alone 
have  been  heard.  In  the  field  were  persons,  en- 
during hardships,  and  straining  every  nerve,  for  the 
general  safety.  A  few  of  the  members  of  their 
own  body,  too,  were  there,  who  did  not  despond.* 

Additional  guards  were  posted  along  the  swamp, 
on  both  sides  of  the  Mississippi,  to  arrest  all  inter- 
course ;  while  on  the  river,  the  common  highway 
watch-boats  were  constantly  plying,  during  the 
night,  in  difierent  directions,  so  that  a  log  could 
scarcely  float  down  the  stream  unperceived.  Two 
flat-bottomed  boats,  on  a  dark  night,  were  turned 
adrift  above,  to  ascertain  if  vigDance  were  preserv- 
ed, and  whether  there  would  be  any  possibility  of 
escaping  the  guards,  and  passing  in  safety  to  the 
British  lines.  The  light  boats  discovered  them  on 
their  passage,  and,  on  the  alarm  being  given,  they 
were  opened  upon  by  the  Louisiana  sloop,  the  bat- 
teries on  the  shore,  and  in  a  few  minutes  were 
sunk.  In  spite,  however,  of  every  precaution,  Trea- 
son discovered  avenues,  through  which  to  project 
and  execute  her  nefarious  plans,  and  through  them 


'  Onlv  four  members  of  the  legislature  appeared  in  the  6eld  to 
defend  their  country-  We  regret  not  knowing  the  name  of  one 
of  these  persons  ;  those  »c  have  ascertained  are,  General  Gar- 
rigue  Flojack.  Jlajor  Eziel,  and  Mr.  Bufort,  who,  abandoning 
^eir  civil  duties  for  the  field,  alforded  examples  worthy  of  imita 
tioo. 


268  LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON. 


1 


was  constantly  afforded  information  to  the  enemy ; 
carried  to  tliem,  no  doubt,  by  adventurous  friends, 
who  effected  their  nigiitly  passage  through  the  , 
deepest  parts  of  the  swamp  wliere  it  was  impossi- 
ble for  sentinels  to  be  stationed. 

Great  inconvenience  was  sustained  for  the  want 
of  arms,  and  much  anxiety  felt,  lest  the  enemy, 
through  their  faithful  adherents,  might,  on  this  sub-  j 
ject  also,  obtain  information  ;  to  prevent  it,  as  far 
as  possible,  General  Jackson  endeavoured  to  con- 
ceal the  strength  of  his  array,  by  suffering  his  re-  i 
ports  to  be  seen  by  none  but  himself  and  tlie  adju-  ' 
tant-general.    Many  of  the  troops  in  the  field  were  | 
supplied  with  common  guns,  which  were  of  little  ' 
service.     The  Kentucky  troops,  daily  expected, 
were  also  understood  to  be  badly  provided  with 
arms.    Uncertain  but  that  the  city  might  yet  con- 
tain many  articles  that  would  be  serviceable,  orders  | 
were  issued  to  the  mayor  of  New  Orleans,  direct- 
ing him  to  inqtrire  through  every  store  and  house,  I 
and  take  possession  of  all  the  muskets,  bayonets,  i 
spades  and  axes  he  could  find.    Understanding'  i 
too,  there  were  many  young  men,  who,  from  differ- 
ent pretexts,  had  not  appeared  in  the  field,  he  was  ; 
mstructed  to  obtain  a  register  of  every  man  in  the  | 
city,  under  the  age  of  fifty,  that  measures  might  be  ] 
concerted  for  drawing  forth  those  who  had  hitherto 
appeared  backward  in  the  pending  contest. 

Frequent  light  skirmishes,  by  advanced  parties,  ^ 
without  material  effect  on  either  side,  were  the  only  | 
incidents  that  took  place  for  several  days.  Colonel 
Hinds,  at  the  head  of  the  Mississippi  dragoons,  on  I 
the  30th,  was  ordered  to  dislodge  a  party  of  the  j 
enemy,  who,  under  coveT  of  a  ditch  that  ran  across 
the  plain,  were  annoying  our  fatigue  parties.    In  ] 


I 


LIFB  OF  GENERAL   JACKSON.  269 

his  advance,  he  was  unexpectedly  thrown  into  an 
ambuscade,  and  became  exposed  to  the  fire  of  a 
line,  which  had  hitherto  been  unobserved.  His 
collected  conduct,  and  gallant  deportment,  gained 
him  and  his  corps  the  approbation  of  the  command- 
ing general,  and  extricated  him  from  the  danger  in 
which  he  was  placed.  The  enemy,  forced  from 
their  position,  retired,  and  he  returned  to  the  line, 
with  the  loss  of  five  men. 
23'* 


LIV'fi  OF  UENERAL  JACKSON. 


CHAPTER  X.  ; 

Attack  of  Ihf  \sl  of  January. — Gerural  Jackson's  lirv.  of  drfmct 
— Kentuckxj  iroops  afrive  at  head-qrmrters. — British  army  re*- 
enforced :  ilieir  prepaiations  for  attack. — Battle  of  the  2th  of 

January,  and  remdse  of  the  ertfimy. — American  redoubt  carried,  ' 

a7id  retakeii.^'^olonel    Tknmlon  proceeds  against  General  1 

Morgan's  line,  and  takes  possession  of  it. — iMter  of  Captain  i 

Wilkins07i. — Brit'sh    v-atcli  uord. —  OeneroJiS  condiict  of  tlie  i 

Ameritan  soldiers. — Morgan's  line  regained. —  General  Ijjmbert  ' 
reqitests  a  suspension  of  hosfilities. — Amtistice  concluded, — ; 

ecidioii  cf  an  American  soldier  to/  tlie  British,  j 

The  British  were  encamped  two  miles  below  the  ] 
American  army,  on  a  perfect  plain,  in  full  vie\v\  1 
Although  foiled  in  their  attempt  to  carry  our  worka  I 
by  their  batteries  on  the  28th,  they  resolved  upoa  j 
another  attack,  which  they  believed  would  be  more 
successful.    Presuming  their  failure  to  have  arisen 
from  not  having  sufficiently  strong  batteries  and 
heavy  ordnance,  a  more  enlarged  arrangement  waa  . 
resorted  to,  with  a  confidence  of  silencing  opposi- 
tion.   The  internn  betw  een  the  2Sth  of  December  | 
and  1st  of  January  was  spent  in  preparing  to  exe-  i 
cute  their  designs.     Their  boats  had  been  de- 
spatched to  the  shipping,  and  an  additional  supply  | 
of  heavy  cannon  landed  through  Bayou  Bienvenu,  I 
whence  they  had  first  debarked.  | 

During  the  night  of  the  31st,  they  were  busily 
engaged.  An  impenetrable  fog,  next  morning,  not 
dispelled  until  nine  o'clock,  by  concealing  their 
purpose,  aided  them  in  the  plans  they  were  project- 
ing, and  gave  time  for  the  completion  of  tlieir  works,  j 
This  having  disappeared,  several  heavy  batteries,  ; 
at  t!ie  distance  of  si.x  hundred  yards,  mounting  ' 


I 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON. 


271 


eighteen  and  twenty-four  pound  carronades,  were 
presented  to  view.  No  sooner  was  it  sufficiently 
idear  to  distinguish  objects  at  a  distance,  than  these 
were  opened,  and  a  tremendous  burst  of  artillery 
commenced,  accompanied  with  congreve  rockets, 
that  filled  the  air  in  all  directions.  Our  troops,  pro- 
itected  by  a  defence,  which,  from  their  constant  la- 
ibours,  they  believed  to  be  impregnable,  undisturbed, 
^maintained  their  ground,  and,  by  their  skilful 
.management,  succeeded  in  dismounting  the  guns  of 
,the  enemy.  The  British,  through  the  friendly  in- 
terference of  some  disaffected  citizens,  having  been 
jipprized  of  the  situation  of  the  general's  quarters, 
that  he  dwelt  in  a  house  at  a  small  distance  in  the 
jear  of  his  lire  of  defence,  against  it  directed  their 
first  and  principal  efforts,  with  a  view  to  destroy  the 
xjomraander.  So  great  was  the  number  of  balls 
thrown,  that,  in  a  little  while,  its  porticos  were  beat- 
en down,  and  the  building  made  a  complete  wreck. 
In  this  design  they  were  disappointed  ;  for  with 
Jackson  it  was  a  constant  practice,  on  the  first  ap- 
pearance of  danger,  not  to  wait  in  his  quarters, 
watching  events,  but  instantly  to  proceed  to  the 
line,  to  form  arrangements  as  circumstances  might 
require.  Constantly  in  expectation  of  a  charge,  he 
was  never  absent  from  the  post  of  danger :  and 
thither  he  had  this  morning  repaired,  at  the  first 
sound  of  the  cannon,  to  aid  in  defence,  and  inspire 
his  troops  with  firmness.  Our  guns,  along  the 
line,  now  opened,  to  repel  the  assault,  and  a  con- 
stant roar  of  cannon,  on  both  sides,  continued  until 
nearly  noon ;  when,  by  the  superior  skill  of  our 
engineers,  the  two  batteries  formed  on  the  right, 
next  the  woods,  were  nearly  beaten  down,  and 
pnany  of  the  guns  dismounted,  broken,  and  render 


27U 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON. 


ed  useless.  That  next  the  river  still  continued  ita 
fire,  until  tliree  o'clock;  when,  perceiving  all  at- 
tempts to  force  a  breach  ineflbcttial,  the  enemy  gave 
up  the  contest,  and  retired.  Every  act  of  theirs 
discovers  a  strange  delusion,  and  unfolds  on  what 
wild  and  fanciful  grounds  all  their  expectations 
were  founded. 

That  they  could  effect  an  opening,  and  march 
through  the  strong  defence  in  tlieir  front,  was  an 
idea  so  fondly  cherished,  that  an  apprehension  of 
failure  had  scarcely  occurred.  So  sanguine  were 
they  in  this  belief,  that,  early  in  the  morning,  their 
soldiers  were  arranged  along  the  ditches,  in  rear  of 
their  batteries,  ready  to  advance  to  the  charge,  the 
moment  a  breach  could  be  made.  Here,  by  their 
situation,  protected  from  danger,  they  remained, 
waiting  the  result.  But,  their  efforts  not  having 
produced  the  slightest  impression,  nor  their  rockets 
the  effect  of  driving  our  militia  away,  they  aban- 
doned the  contest,  and  retired  to  their  camp,  leav- 
ing their  batteries  materially  injured. 

It  occurred  to  the  British  commander,  an  attack 
might  be  made  to  advantage  next  the  woods,  and  a 
force  was  accordingly  ordered  to  penetrate  in  this 
direction,  and  turn  the  lefl  of  our  line,  which  wa« 
supposed  not  to  extend  farther  than  to  the  margin  of 
the  swamp.  In  this  way,  it  was  expected  a  diver- 
sion could  be  made,  while  the  reserve  columns, 
being  in  waiting,  were  to  press  forward  the  moment 
this  object  could  be  effected.  Here,  too,  disap- 
pointment resulted.  Coffee's  brigade,  being  extend- 
ed into  the  swamp  as  far  as  ii  wPs  possible  for  an 
advancing  party  to  penetrate,  brought  unexpected 
dangers  into  view,  and  occasioned  an  abandonment 
of  the  project.    That  to  turn  the  extreme  left  of 


LIFE  OF  GENEKAl,  JACKSON. 


273  * 


the  line  was  practicable,  and  might  be  attempted, 
was  the  subject  of  early  consideration ;  and  neces- 
sary precaution  had  been  taken  to  prevent  it. — 
Although  cutting  the  levee  had  raised  the  water  in 
the  swamp,  and  increased  the  difficulties  of  keep- 
ing troops  there,  yet  a  fear  lest  this  pass  might  be  ^ 
sought  by  the  enemy,  and  tlie  rear  of  the  line  gain-  ' 
ed,  had  determined  the  general  to  extend  his  de-  • 
fence   even  here.     This  had  been  intrusted  to  i 
General  Coffee;  and  surely  a  more  arduous  duty 
can  scarcely  be  imagined.    To  form  a  breastwork,  | 
in  such  a  place,  was  attended  with  many  difficul-  j 
ties,  and  considerable  exposure.    A  slight  defence,  : 
however,  had  been  thrown  up,  and  the  unuerwood,  i 
for  thirty  or  forty  yards  in  front,  cut  down,  that  the  , 
rifiemen,  stationed  for  its  protection,  might  have  a  ' 
complete  view  of  any  force,  which  might  attempt 
a  passage.    When  it  is  recollected  this  position  j 
was  to  be  maintained  night  and  day,  uncertain  of  ' 
the  moment  of  attack,  and  that  the  only  opportunity 
afforded  our  troops  for  rest  was  on  logs  and  brush, 
by  which  they  were  raised  above  the  surrounding 
water,  it  may  be  truly  said,  that  seldom  has  it  fall-  i 
en  to  the  lot  of  any  to  encounter  greater  hardships :  i 
but,  accustomed  to  privation,  and  alive  to  those  feel- 
ings which  a  love  of  country  inspires,  they  obeyed,  ' 
and  cheerfully  kept  their  position  untU  danger  had  i 
subsided.    Sensible  of  the  importance  of  the  point  ' 
they  defended,  that  it  was  necessary  to  be  mam-  i 
tained,  be  the  sacrifice  what  it  might,  they  looked  j 
to  nothing  but  a  faithful  discharge  of  tlie  trust  con-  I 
fided  to  them.  j 
Our  loss,  in  this  affair,  was  eleven  killed,  and  ^ 
twenty-three  wounded :  that  of  the  enemy  waa  ! 
never  correctly  known.    Tlie  only  certain  informa 


j 


274 


LIFE  or  GENERAL  JACKSON. 


tion  is  contained  in  a  communication  of  the  28th 
instant  from  General  Lambert  to  Enrl  Bathurst,  in 
wJiich  the  loss,  from  the  1st  to  the  5th,  is  stated 
at  seventy-eight.  Many  allowances,  however,  are 
to  be  made  for  this  report.  From  the  great  pre- 
cision of  our  fire,  their  loss  was,  no  doubt,  consider- 
able.— The  enemy's  heavy  shot  having  penetrated 
our  intrenchment,  in  many  places,  it  was  dis- 
covered not  to  be  as  strong  as  had  been  imagined. 
Fatigue  parties  were  again  employed,  and  its 
strength  daily  increased :  an  additional  number  of 
bales  of  cotton  were  taken  to  be  applied  to  defend- 
ing the  embrasures.  A  Frenchman,  whose  property 
had  been  thus,  without  his  consent,  seized,  fearful 
of  the  injury  it  might  sustain,  proceeded  in  person 
to  General  Jackson,  to  reclaim  it,  and  to  demand  its 
delivery.  The  general,  having  heard  his  complaint, 
and  ascertained  from  him  that  he  was  unemployed 
In  any  military  service,  directed  a  musket  to  be 
brought  to  him,  and,  placing  it  in  his  hand,  ordered 
him  on  the  line,  remarking,  at  the  same  time,  that, 
as  he  seemed  to  be  a  man  possessed  of  property, 
he  knew  of  none  who  had  a  better  right  to  fight,  to 
defend  it. 

It  was  understood  by  Jackson,  that  the  enemy 
were  in  daily  expectation  of  re-enforcements  ;  though 
he  rested  with  confidence  in  the  belief,  that  a  few 
more  days  would  also  bring  to  his  assistance  the 
troops  from  Kentucky.  Each  party,  therefore,  was 
constantly  engaged  in  preparation,  the  one  to  wage 
a  vigorous  attack,  the  otiier  to  oppose  it. 

The  position  of  the  American  array  was  in  the 
rear  of  an  intrenchment  formed  of  earth,  which 
extended  in  a  straight  line  from  the  river  to  a  con 
eidemble  distance  in  the  swamp.    In  front  was  a 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON.  275  ' 

deep  ditch,  which  had  been  formerly  used  as  a  mill- 
race.    The  Mississippi  had  receded,  and  left  this 

dry,  next  the  river,  though  in  many  places  the  i 

water  still  remained.    Along  the  line,  at  unequal  ' 

distances,  to  the  centre  of  General  Carroll's  com-  ! 

mand,  were  guns  mounted,  of  different  caliber,  from  ' 

six  to  tliirty-two  pounders.    Near  the  river,  in  ad-  \ 

vance  of  the  intrenchment,  was  a  redoubt,  with  i 

embrasures,  commanding  the  road  along  the  levee.  \ 
calculated  to  rake  the  ditch  in  front. 

General  Morgan  was  ordered,  on  the  24th  of  j 

December,  to  cross  to  the  west  bank  of  the  Missis-  j 

sippi.    From  apprehension  that  an  attempt  might  | 

be  made  through  Barrataria,  and  the  city  reacheii  I 

from  the  right  bank,  tlie  general  had  extended  hia  i 

defence  there  :  in  fact,  unacquainted  with  the  ene-  | 

my's  views, — not  knowing  the  number  of  their  j 

troops,  he  had  carefully  divided  out  his  forces,  that  i 

he  might  be  able  to  protect,  in  whatever  direction  an  I 
assault  should  be  waged.    His  greatest  fears,  and 

hence  his  strongest  defence,  next  to  the  one  cccu-  ^ 
pied  by  himself,  was  on  the  Chef  Menteur  road, 
where  Governor  Claiborne,  at  the  head  of  the 

Louisiana  militi^^  was  posted.    The  position  on  the  j 

right  was  formed  on  the  same  plan  with  the  line  on  j 
the  left, — lower  down  than  that  on  the  left,  extend 

ing  to  the  swamp  at  right  angles  with  the  river  | 
Here  General  Morgan  commanded. 

To  be  prepared  against  every  possible  contin 
gency,  Jackson  had  established  another  line  of  de- 
fence, about  two  miles  in  the  rear  of  the  one  at 

present  occupied,  which  was  intended  as  a  rallying  I 

point,  if  driven  from  his  first  position.    With  tlie  I 

aid  of  his  cavalry,  to  give  a  momentary  check  to  | 
the  advance  of  the  enemy,  he  expected  to  be  en 


276  LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON. 


abled,  with  inconsiderable  injury,  to  reach  it;  where- 
he  would  ag-ain  have  advantages  on  his  side,  be  in 
a  situation  to  dispute  a  farther  passage  to  the  city, 
and  arrest  their  progress.  To  inspirit  his  own 
soldiers,  and  to  exhibit  to  tlie  enemy  as  great  a 
show  as  possible  of  strength  and  intended  resist- 
ance, his  unarmed  troops,  which  constituted  no 
very  inconsiderable  number,  were  here  stationed. 
All  intercourse  between  the  lines,  but  by  confiden- 
tial officers,  was  prohibited,  and  every  vigilance  em- 
ployed, not  only  to  keep  this  want  of  preparation 
concealed  from  the  enemy,  but  even  from  being 
known  on  his  own  lines. 

Occasional  firing  at  a  distance,  which  produc»«i 
nothing  of  consequence,  was  all  that  marked  the 
interim  from  the  1st  to  the  8th. 

On  the  4th  of  this  month,  the  long-expected  re- 
enforcement  from  Kentucky,  amounting  to  twenty- 
two  hundred  and  fifty,  under  Major-General  Thomas, 
arrived  at  head-quarters ;  but  so  ill  provided  will, 
arms,  n,s  to  be  incapable  of  rendering  any  consider- 
able service.  The  alacrity  with  which  the  citizene- 
of  this  state  had  proceeded  to  the  frontiers,  anc 
aided  in  the  north-western  campaigns,  added  to  the' 
disasters  which  ill-timed  policy  or  misfortune  had 
produced,  had  created  such  a  drain,  that  arms  were- 
not  to  be  procured.  They  had  advanced,  however,, 
to  their  point  of  destination,  with  an  expectation  of 
being  supplied  on  their  arrival.  About  five  hun- 
dred of  them  had  muskets ;  the  rest  were  provided 
with  guns,  from  which  little  or  no  advantage  could 
be  expected.  The  mayor  of  New  Orleans,  at  the 
request  of  General  Jackson,  had  drawn  from  the- 
city  every  weapon  that  could  be  found  ;  while  the 
arrival  of  the  Louisiana  militia,  in;  an  equcdl;  uni 


LIFE  OF  GENEBAL  JACKSOIf. 


27* 


prepared  situation,  rendered  it  impossible  for  the 
evil  to  be  effectually  remedied.  A  boat,  laden  with 
arms,  was  somewhere  on  the  river,  intended  for  the 
use  of  tho.  lower  country  ;  but  where  it  was,  or 
when  it  might  arrive,  rested  alone  on  conjecture. 
Expresses  had  been  despatched  up  the  river,  for 
three  hundred  mUes,  to  hasten  it  on ;  still  there 
were  no  tidings  of  an  approach.  That  so  many 
brave  men  should  be  compelled  to  stand  with  fold- 
ed arms,  unable  to  render  the  least  possible  service 
to  their  country,  was  an  event,  which  did  not  fail 
to  excite  the  sensibility  of  the  general.  His  mind, 
prepared  for  any  thing  but  despondency,  sought  re- 
lief in  vain.  No  alternative  was  presented,  but  to 
place  them  at  his  intrenchment  in  the  rear,  conceal 
their  actual  condition,  and,  by  the  show  they  might 
make,  add  to  his  appearance,  without  at  all  increas- 
ing his  strength. 

Information  was  received,  that  Major-General 
Lambert  had  joiiied  the  British  commander-in-cliief, 
with  a  considerable  re-enforcement.  It  had  been 
announced  in  the  American  camp,  that  additional 
forces  were  expected,  and  something  decisive  might 
be  looked  for,  so  soon  as  they  should  arrive.  This 
circumstance,  with  others,  had  led  to  the  conclusion 
that  a  few  days  more  would,  in  all  probability,  de- 
cide the  fate  of  the  city.  It  was  more  than  ever 
necessary  to  keep  concealed  the  situation  of  his 
army ;  and,  above  all,  to  preserve  as  secret  as  pos- 
sible its  unarmed  condition.  To  restrict  aU  com- 
munication, even  with  his  own  lines,  was  now,  as 
danger  increased,  rendered  more  important.  None 
were  permitted  to  leave  the  line,  and  none  from 
without  to  pass  into  camp,  but  such  as  were  to  be 
implicitly  confided  in.  The  line  of  sentinels  was 
24 


278  LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON. 


Htrengthened  in  front,  that  none  might  pass  to  the 
enemy,  should  desertion  be  attempted :  yet,  not- 
withstanding this  precaution,  liis  phins  were  dis-  | 
closed.    On  the  night  of  the  6th,  a  soldier  from  ' 
the  line,  by  some  means,  succeeded  in  eluding  the  I 
vigilance  of  our  sentinels.    Early  next  morning  I 
his  departure  was  discovered  :  it  was  at  once  cor-  i 
rectly  conjectured  he  had  gone  to  the  enemy,  and  [ 
would,  no  doubt,  afford  them  all  the  information  in  ' 
his  power.    He  unfolded  to  the  British  the  situa-  ; 
tion  of  the  American  line  ;  the  late  re-enforcements 
we  had  received,  and  the  unarmed  condition  of 
many  of  the  troops  ;  and,  pointing  to  the  centre  of 
General  Carroll's  division  as  a  place  occupied  by 
militia  alone,  recoimnended  it  as  the  point  where  . 
an  attack  might  be  most  safely  made.  I 
Other  intelligence  received  was  confirmatory  cf  I 
the  belief  of  an  impending  attack.    From  some  , 
prisoners,  taken  on  the  lake,  it  was  ascertained  the  \ 
enemy  were  busily  engaged  in  deepening  Villery's 
Canal,  with  a  view  of  passing  their  boats  and  ord- 
nance to  the  Mississippi.    During  the  7th,  a  con- 
stant bustle  was  perceived  in  the  British  camp,  i 
Along  the  borders  of  the  canal,  their  soldiers  were 
continually  in  motion,  marching  and  manceuvring,  foi  I 
no  other  purpose  than  to  conceal  those  who  were  J 
busily  engaged  at  work  in  the  rear.    To  ascertain  | 
the  cause  of  this  uncommon  stir,  and  learn  their  de-  I 
signs,  as  far  as  was  practicable,  Commodore  Patter-  1 
son  had  proceeded  down  the  river,  on  the  opposite  | 
side,  and,  having  gained  a  favourable  position,  in  i 
front  of  their  encampment,  discovered  them  to  be  ' 
actually  engaged  in  deepening  the  passage  to  the  ' 
river.   It  was  no  difficult  matter  to  divine  tlieir  pur- 
pose.   No  other  conjecture  could  be  entertained,  ; 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON.             279  j 

than  that  an  assault  was  intended  to  be  made  on 
the  line  of  defence  comni.inded  by  General  Mor-  ; 
gan ;  which,  if  gained,  would  expose  our  troops  on  | 
the  left  bank  to  tlie  fire  of  the  redoubt  erected  on 
the  right ;  and  in  this  way  compel  them  to  an 
abandonment  of  their  position.    To  counteract  this  ] 
scheme  was  important ;  and  measures  were  imme- 
diately taken  to  prevent  the  execution  of  a  plan,  j 
which,  if  successful,  would  be  attended  with  incal-  J 
culable  dangers.    An  increased  strength  was  given  I 
to  this  line.    The  second  regiment  of  Louisiana  j 
militia,  and  four  hundred  Kentucky  troops,  were  i 
directed  to  be  crossed  over,  to  protect  it.    Owing  I 
to  some  delay  in  arming  them,  the  latter,  amount- 
ing, instead  of  four  hundred,  to  but  one  hundred  j 
and  eighty,  did  not  arrive  until  the  morning  of  the  | 
8th.    A  little  before  day,  they  were  despatched  to  I 
aid  an  advanced  party,  who,  under  the  command  j 
of  Major  Arnaut,  had  been  sent  to  watch  the  move-  ' 
ments  of  the  enemy,  and  oppose  their  landing. 
The  hopes  indulged  from  their  opposition  were  not  1 
realized  ;  and  the  enemy  reached  the  shore.  ' 

Morgan's  position,  besides  being  strengthened  bj 
several  brass  twelves,  was  defended  by  a  strong  j 
battery,  mounting  twenty-four  pounders,  directed  i 
by  Commodore  Patterson,  which  afforded  additional  i 
security.  The  line  itself  was  not  strong,  yet,  if  ( 
properly  maintained  by  the  troops  selected  to  de- 
fend it,  was  believed  fully  adequate  to  the  purposes  i 
of  successful  resistance.  Late  at  night,  Patterson  ■ 
ascertained  the  enemy  had  succeeded  m  passing  > 
their  boats  through  the  canal,  and  immediately  , 
communicated  his  information  to  the  general.  The  ' 
commodore  had  formed  the  idea  of  dropping  the  \ 
Louisiana  schooner  down,  to  attack  and  sink  them,  i 


280  LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON. 

This  thought,  though  well  conceived,  was  abandon-  I 
ed,  from  the  danger  involved,  and  from  an  appre-  j 
hensiou  lest  the  batteries  erected  on  the  river,  with  \ 
which  she  would  come  in  collision,  might,  by  the  , 
aid  of  hot  shot,  succeed  in  blowing  her  up.    It  was  ' 
preferred  to  await  their  arrival,  believing  it  would 
bo  practicable,  with  the  bravery  of  more  than  fifteen  ^ 
hundred  men,  and  the  slender  advantages  possessed 
from  their  line  of  defence,  to  maintain  their  position.  1 
On  the  left  bank,  where  the  general  in  person  ' 
commanded,  every  thing  was  in  readiness  to  meet  I 
the  assault  when  it  should  be  made.    The  redoubt 
on  the  levee  was  defended  by  a  company  of  the 
seventh  regiment,  under  the  command  of  Lieuten- 
ant Ross.    The  regular  troops  occupied  that  part  i 
of  the  intrenchment  next  the  river.    General  Car- 
roll's division  was  in  the  centre,  supported  by  the  ' 
Kentucky  troops,  under  General  John  Adair ;  while 
the  extreme  left,  extending  for  a  considerable  dis- 
tance into  the  swamp,  was  protected  by  the  brigade  I 
of  General  Coffee.    How  soon  the  attack  would 
6e  wa^ed  was  uncertain.    General  Jackson,  un- 
moved  by  appearances,  anxiously  desired  a  con-  j 
test,   which  he  believed  would  give  a  triumph 
to  his  arms,  and  terminate  the  hardships  of  bis 
so'diers.    Unremitting  in  exertion,  and  constantly  ■ 
vigilant,  his  precaution  kept  pace  with  the  zeal  and  j 
preparation  of  the  enemy.    He  seldom  slept:  he  i 
was  always  at  his  post,  performing  the  duties  of  ! 
both  general  and  soldier.    His   sentinels  were 
doubled,  and  extended  as  far  as  possible  in  the  di- 
rection of  the  British  camp  ;  while  a  considerable  \ 
portion  of  the  troops  were  constantly  at  the  line, 
with  arms  in  their  hands,  ready  to  act.  when  the 
first  alarm  should  be  given. 


1 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON.  281  | 

For  eight  days  had  the  two  armies  lain  upon  the  \ 

esine  field,  and  in  view  of  each  other,  without  any  ] 

thing  deciaive  on  either  side.    Twice,  since  their  ! 

landing,  liad  the  British  columns  essayed  to  effect  ; 

by  storm  the  execution  of  their  plans,  and  twice  ■ 
had  failed,  and  been  compelled  to  relinquish  the 

attempt.    It  was  not  to  be  expected  that  things  ' 

could  long  remain  in  this  dubious  state.  j 

The  8th  of  January  at  length  arrived.    The  day  | 
dawned ;  and  tlie  signals,  intended  to  produce  con- 
cert in  the  enemy's  movements,  were  descried.  I 
On  the  left,  near  the  swamp,  a  sky-rocket  was  per-  ' 
ceived  rising  in  the  air ;  and  presently  another  as-  j 
cended  from  the  right,  next  the  river.    They  were 
intended  to  announce  that  all  was  ready,  to  carry  ! 
by  storm  a  defence  which  had  twice  foUed  their  ut-  I 
most  efforts.    Instantly  the  charge  was  made,  and 
with  such  rapidity,  that  our  soldiers,  at  the  out-  i 
posts,  with  difEcuIty  fled  in.  I 

The  British  batteries,  which  had  been  demolished 
on  the  1st  of  the  month,  had  been  re-established 
during  the  preceding  night,  and  heavy  pieces  of 
cannon  mounted,  to  aid  in  their  intended  operations.  | 
These  now  opened,  and  showers  of  bombs  and  balls  j 
were  poured  upon  our  line  ;  while  the  air  was  light- 
ed with  their  congreve  rockets.   The  two  divisions,  I 
commanded  by  Sir  Edward  Packenham  in  person, 
and  supported  by  Generals  Keane  and  Gibbs,  press- 
ed forward  ;  the  right  against  the  centre  of  Gene- 
ral Carroll's  command,  the  left  against  our  redoubt  ] 
on  the  levee.  A  thick  fog,  that  obscured  the  morn-  ' 
ing,  enabled  them  to  approach  within  a  short  dis-  , 
tance  of  our  intrenchment.  before  they  were  dis-  j 
covered.    They  were  now  perceived  advancing,  i 
with  firm,  qu-ck,  and  steady  pace,  in  column,  with 

^4*  I 


i 


282 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSUN. 


I 


a  front  of  sixty  or  seventy  deep.    Our  troops,  who 
had  for  some  time  been  in  readiness,  gave  three 
cheers,  and  instantly  the  whole  line  was  lighted  ' 
with  the  blaze  of  their  fire.    A  burst  of  artillery  j 
and  small  arms,  pouring  with  destructive  aim  upon  ■ 
ihem,  mowed  down  their  front,  and  arrested  their  \ 
advance.    In  our  musketry  there  w-as  not  a  nio-  | 
ment's  intermission ;  as  one  party  discliarged  their 
pieces,  anotlier  succeeded  ;  alternately  loading  and  | 
appearing,  no  pause  could  be  perceived, — it  was  , 
one  continued  volley.    The  columns  already  per-  | 
ceived  their  dangerous  situation.    Battery  No.  7, 
on  the  left,  was  ably  served  by  Lieutenant  Spotts, 
and  galled  them  with  an  incessant  fire.  Batteries 
No.  6  and  8  were  no  less  actively  employed,  and  no 
less  successful  in  felling  them  to  the  ground.  Not- 
withstanding the  severity  of  our  fire,  which  few 
troops  could  for  a  moment  liave  withstood,  some  of  i 
those  brave  men  pressed  on,  and  succeeded  in  | 
gaining  the  ditch,  in  front  of  our  works,  where  they  i 
remained  during  the  action,  and  were  ufterwarr  j  I 
made  prisoners.    The  horror  before  them  was  too  j 
great  to  be  withstood  ;  and  already  were  the  Br  iish  ' 
troops  seen  wavering  in  their  determination,  and 
receding  from  the  conflict.    At  this  moment.  Sir 
Edward  Packenham,  hastening  to  the  front,  en- 
deavoured to  inspire  them  with  rene'ved  zeal.    Hia  ■■ 
example  was  of  short  continuance ;  he  soon  fell,  i 
mortally  wounded,  in  the  arms  of  his  aid-de-camp.  ; 
not  far  from  our  line.    Generals  Gibbs  and  Keane 
also  fell,  and  were  borne  from  the  field,  dangerous-  I 
ly  wounded.    At  this  moment,  General  Lambert,  ' 
who  was  advancing  at  a  small  distance  m  the  rear,  . 
with  the  reserve,  met  the  columns  precipitately  re-  j 
treating,  and  in  great  confusion.    His  effortfl  to 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  J4CKS0N.  283 


Stop  them  were  unavailing, — they  continued  re- 
treating, until  they  reached  a  ditch,  at  the  distance 
of  four  hundred  yards,  where,  a  momentary  safety 
being  found,  they  were  rallied,  and  halted. 

The  field  before  them,  over  which  they  had  ad- 
vanced, was  strewed  with  the  dead  and  dying. 
Danger  hovered  still  around ;  yet,  urged  and  en- 
couraged by  their  officers,  who  feared  their  own 
disgrace  involved  in  the  failure,  they  again  moved 
to  the  charge.  They  were  already  near  enough  to 
deploy,  and  were  endeavouring  to  do  so ;  but  the 
same  constant  and  unremitted  resistance  that  caused 
their  first  retreat  continued  yet  unabated.  Our 
batteries  had  never  ceased  their  fire ;  their  constant 
discharges  of  grape  and  canister,  and  the  fatal 
aim  of  our  musketry,  mowed  down  the  front  of  the 
columns  as  fast  as  they  could  be  formed.  Satisfied 
nothing  could  be  done,  and  that  certain  destruction 
awaited  all  further  attempts,  they  forsook  the  field 
in  disorder,  leaving  it  almost  entirely  covered  with 
the  dead  and  wounded.  It  was  in  vain  their  offi- 
cers endeavoured  to  animate  them  to  further  resist- 
ance, and  equally  vain  to  attempt  coercion.  The 
panic  produced  from  the  dreadful  repulse  they  had 
experienced ;  the  plain,  on  which  they  had  acted 
being  covered  with  innumerable  bodies  of  theii 
countrymen ;  while,  with  their  most  zealous  exer 
txons,  they  had  been  unable  to  obtain  the  slightest 
advantage, — were  circumstances  well  calculated  te 
make  even  the  most  submissive  soldier  oppose  the 
authority  that  would  have  controlled  him. 

The  light  companies  of  fusileers,  the  forty-third 
and  ninety-third  regiments,  and  one  hundred  men 
from  the  West  India  regiment,  led  on  by  Colonel 
Rennie,  were  ordered  to  proceed  under  cover  of 


284  LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON. 


some  chimneys,  standing  in  the  field,  until  having  I 
cleared  them,  to  oblique  to  the  river,  and  advance, 
protected  by  the  levee,  against  our  redoubt  on  the  ] 
right.    This  work,  having  been  but  lately  com-  i 
menced,  was  in  an  unfinished  state.    It  was  not  \ 
until  the  4th,  that  General  Jackson,  much  against 
his  own  opinion,  had  yielded  to  the  suggestions  of 
others,  and  permitted  its  projection ;  and,  consider- 
ing the  plan  on  which  it  had  been  sketched,  it  had  | 
not  yet  received  that  strength  necessary  to  its  safe 
defence.    Tlie   detachment  ordered  against  this  . 
place  formed  the  left  of  General  Keane's  command.  ] 
Rennie  executed  his  orders  with  great  bravery;  , 
and,  urging  forward,  arrived  at  the  ditch.    His  ad-  | 
Vance  was  greatly  annoyed  by  Commodore  Patter-  I 
son's  battery  on  the  left  bank,  and  the  cannon  | 
mounted  on  the  redoubt ;  but,  reaching  our  works,  ■ 
and  passing  the   ditch,  Rennie,  sword  in  hand, 
leaped  on  the  wall,  and,  calling  to  his  troops,  bade  ] 
them  follow  ;  he  had  scarcely  spoken,  when  he  fell  .1 
by  the  fatal  aim  of  our  riflemen.    Pressed  by  the  \ 
impetuosity  of  superior  numbers,  who  were  mount-  I 
ing  the  wall,  and  entering  at  the  embrasures,  our  1 
troops  had  retired  to  the  line,  in  rear  of  the  redoubt. 
A  momentary  pause  ensued,  but  only  to  be  inter-  , 
rnpted  with  increased  horrors.    Captain  Beal,  with  , 
the  city  riflemen,  cool  and  self-possessed,  perceiv- 
ing the  enemy  in  his  front,  opened  upon  them,  and  ^ 
at  every  discharge  brought  the  object  to  the  ground.  • 
To  advance,  or  maintain  the  point  gained,  was  I 
equally  impracticable  for  the  enemy :  to  retreat  or  ' 
surrender  was  the  only  alternative  ;  for  they  already  1 
perceived  the  division  on  the  right  thrown  into  con-  < 
fusion,  and  hastily  leaving  the  field.  { 


i 
i 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSOV.  285 

General  Jackson,  being  informed  of  the  success  I 
of  the  enemy  on  tlie  right,  and  of  their  being  in 
possession  of  the  redoubt,  pressed  forward  a  re-en-  ' 
forcement  to  regain  it    Previously  to  its  arrival 
they  had  abandoned  the  attempt,  and  were  retiring,  j 
They  were  severely  galled  by  such  of  our  guns  as 
could  be  brought  to  bear.    The  levee  afforded  them 
considerable  protection ;  yet,  by  Commodore  Patter-  j 
son's  redoubt,  on  the  right  bank,  they  suffered 
greatly.    Enfiladed  by  this,  on  their  advance,  they 
had  been  greatly  annoyed,  and  now,  in  their  re- 
treat, were  no  less  severely  assailed.    Numbers  | 
found  a  grave  in  the  ditch,  before  our  line ;  and  of 
those  who  gained  the  redoubt,  not  one,  it  is  believ- 
ed, escaped  ; — they  were  shot  down  as  fast  as  they  I 
entered.    The  route,  along  which  they  had  advanc-  j 
ed  and  retired,  was  strewed  with  bodies.  Affright-  I 
ed  at  the  carnage,  they  moved  from  the  scene  in  ■ 
confusion.    Our  batteries  were  still  continuing  the  | 
slaughter,  and  cutting  them  down  at  every  step :  i 
safety  seemed  only  to  be  attainable  when  they  [ 
should  have  retired  without  the  range  of  our  shot,  j 
which,  to  troops  galled  as  severely  as  tliey  were, 
was  too  remote  a  relief    Pressed  by  this  considera-  1 
tion,  they  fled  to  the  ditch,  whither  the  right  divis- 
ion had  retreated,  and  there  remained  until  night  I 
permitted  them  to  retire. 

A  considerable  portion  of  our  troops  were  inactive 
for  the  want  of  arms  to  place  in  their  hands.    If  i 
tliis  had  not  been  the  case — had  they  been  in  a  I 
situation  to  have  acted  efficiently,  the  whole  British 
army  must  have  submitted. 

Colonel  Hinds  was  very  solicitous,  and  in  person 
applied  to  the  commanding  general  for  leave  to  j 
pursue,  at  the  head  of  his  dragoons,  the  fleeino  ] 


286 


LIFE   OF  GENERAL  JACKSON. 


columns  of  the  enemy :  Jackson,  however,  would 
not  permit  it.  "  My  reason  for  refusing,"  he  re- 
markeil,  "  was,  that  it  miglit  become  necessary  to 
sustain  him,  and  thus  a  contest  in  the  open  field  be 
brought  on :  the  lives  of  my  men  were  of  value  to 
their  country,  and  much  too  dear  to  their  families 
to  be  hazarded  where  necessity  did  not  require  it; 
hut,  abovo  all,  from  tlie  numerous  dead  and  wounded 
stretched  out  on  the  field  before  me,  I  felt  a  con 
fidence  tliat  the  safety  of  the  city  was  most  proba 
bly  attained,  and  hence,  that  nothing  calculated  to 
reverse  the  good  fortune  we  had  met  should  b© 
attempted." 

The  efforts  of  the  enemy  to  carry  our  line  of  de- 
fence on  the  left  were  seconded  by  an  attack  on 
the  right  bank,  with  eight  hundred  chosen  troops, 
under  the  command  of  Colonel  Thornton.  Owing 
to  the  difficulty  of  passing  the  boats  from  the  canal 
to  the  river,  and  the  strong  current  of  the  Missis- 
sippi, the  troops  destined  for  this  service  were  not 
crossed,  nor  the  opposite  shore  reached,  for  some 
hours  after  the  expected  moment  of  attack.  By 
the  time  he  had  effected  a  landing,  the  day  had 
dawned,  a.id  the  flashes  of  the  guns  announced  the 
battle.  Supported  by  three  gun-boats,  he  hastened 
forward,  with  his  command,  in  the  direction  of  Mor- 
gan's intrenchment. 

Some  time  during  the  night  of  the  7th,  two  hun- 
dred Louisiana  militia  had  been  sent  off,  to  watch 
the  movements  of  the  enemy,  and  oppose  him  in 
his  lauding  :  this  detachment,  under  the  command 
of  Major  Arnaud,  had  advanced  a  mile  down  the 
river,  and  halted  ;  either  supposing  the  general  in- 
correct, in  apprehending  an  attack,  or  that  his  men, 
if  rofrcshed,  would  be  more  competent  to  exertion, 


LIFE  OF  GF-NERAL  JACKSON- 


287 


he  directed  them  to  lie  down  and  sleep .  one  man 
only  was  ordered  to  be  upon  tlie  watch,  lest  the 
enemy  should  approach  them  undiscovered.  Just 
at  day,  he  called  upon  his  sleeping  companions,  and 
bade  them  rise,  for  he  had  heard  a  considerable 
bustle  a  little  below.  No  sooner  rissen,  than  con- 
firmed in  the  truth  of  what  had  been  stated,  they 
moved  off  in  the  direction  they  had  come,  without 
even  attempting  an  execution  of  their  orders.  The 
Kentucky  troops,  having  reached  Morgan  at  five 
o'clock  in  the  morning,  were  immediately  sent  to 
co-operate  with  the  Louisianians.  !Major  Davis, 
who  commanded,  had  proceeded  about  three  quar- 
ters of  a  mUe,  and  met  those  troops  hastily  retreat- 
ing up  the  road  ;  he  ascertained  from  them  that  the 
enemy  had  made  the  shore  ;  had  debarked,  and 
were  moving  rapidly  up  the  levee.  He  informed 
them  for  what  purpose  he  had  been  despatched, — 
to  oppose  an  approach  as  long  as  practicable,  and, 
with  their  assistance,  he  would  endeavour  to  exe- 
cute his  orders. 

The  two  detachments,  now  acting  togetlier,  form- 
ed behind  a  saw-mUl-race,  skirted  with  a  quantity 
of  plank  and  scantling,  which  afforded  a  tolerable 
shelter.  Davis,  with  his  two  hundred  Kentuckians, 
formed  on  the  road  next  the  river,  supported  by  the 
Louisiana  militia  on  the  right.  The  enemy  appear- 
ing, their  approach  was  resisted,  and  a  spirited 
opposition  for  some  time  maintained.  The  British 
again  advanced,  and  again  received  a  heavy  fire. 
At  this  moment,  General  Morgan's  aid-de-carap, 
who  was  present,  perceiving  the  steady  advance  of 
the  enemy,  and  fearing  for  the  safety  of  the  troops, 
ordered  a  retreat.  Confusion  was  the  consequence 
—order  could  not  be  maintained,  and  the  whole 


288  LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON. 


fled,  in  liaste,  to  Morgan's  line.  Arriving  in  safety, 
though  much  exhausted,  they  were  immediately 
directed  to  form,  and  extend  themselves  to  the 
swamp ;  that  the  right  of  the  intrenchment  might 
not  be  turned.  , 

Colonel  Thornton,  having  reached  an  orange  ' 
grove,  about  seven  hundred  yards  distant,  halted ;  | 
and,  examining  Morgan's  line,  found  it  to  "consist 
of  a  formidable  redoubt  on  the  river,"  with  its  ^ 
weakest  and  most  vulnerable  point  towards  the 
swamp.    He  directly  advanced  to  the  attack,  in 
two  divisions,  against  the  extreme  right  and  centre  | 
of  the  line  ;  and,  having  deployed,  charged  the  in-  I 
trenchment,  defended  by  about  fifteen  hundred  men.  j 
A  severe  discharge,  from  the  field-pieces  mounted  I 
«.long  our  works,  caused  the  right  division  to  ob- 
lique, which,  uniting  with  the  left,  pressed  forward 
lo  the  point  occupied  by  the  Kentucky  troops. 
Perceiving  themselves  thus  exposed,  and  having 
not  yet  recovered  from  the  emotions  produced  by 
their  first  retreat,  they  began  to  give  way,  and  very 
soon  abandoned   their  position.    The  Louisiana 
militia  gave  a  few  fires,  and  followed  the  example  i 
Through  the  exertions  of  the  ofEcers,  a  momentar/  | 
halt  was  effected  ;  but  a  burst  of  congreve  rockets  i 
falling  thickly,  and  setting  fire  to  the  sugar-cane, 
and  other  combustibles  around,  again  excited  theii 
fears,  and  they  moved  hastily  away  ;  nor  could  they 
be  rallied,  untU,  at  the  distance  of  two  miles,  having 
reached  a  saw-mill-race,  they  were  formed,  and  j 
placed  in  an  attitude  of  defence.  ' 

Commodore  Patterson,  perceiving  the  right  flank 
about  to  be  turned,  had  ceased  his  destructive  fire  i 
against  the  retreating  columns  on  the  opposite 
fibore,  and  turned  his  guns  to  enfilade  the  enemy 


LIFE   OF  GENERAL  JAOKSON.  289 

next  the  swamp ;  but,  at  the  moment  when  he  ex- 
pected to  witness  a  firm  resistance,  and  was  in  a 
situation  to  co-operate,  he  beheld  those,  without 
whose  aid  all  his  efforts  were  unavailing,  suddenly 
thrown  into  confusion,  and  forsaking  their  posts. 
Discovering  he  could  no  longer  maintain  his  ground, 
he  spiked  his  guns,  destroyed  his  ammunition,  and 
retired  from  a  post  where  he  had  rendered  the  most 
important  services. 

In  the  panic  tliat  produced  this  disorderly  retreat, 
at  a  moment  when  resistance  was  expected,  are  to 
be  found  circumstances  of  justification,  which  might 
have  occasioned  similar  conduct  even  in  disciplined 
troops.  The  weakest  part  of  the  line  was  assail- 
ed by  the  greatest  strength  of  the  enemy  :  this  was 
defended  by  one  hundred  and  eighty  Kentuckians, 
who  were  stretched  out  to  an  extent  of  three  hun- 
dred yards,  and  unsupported  by  any  pieces  of  artil- 
lery. Thus  openly  exposed  to  the  attack  of  a 
greatly  superior  force,  and  weakened  by  the  ex- 
tent of  ground  they  covered,  it  is  not  to  be  won- 
dered at,  or  deserving  of  reproach,  that  they  should 
have  considered  resistance  ineffectual,  and  forsaken 
a  post,  which  they  had  strong  reasons  for  believing 
they  could  not  maintain.  General  Morgan  report- 
ed to  General  Jackson  the  defeat,  and  attributed  it 
to  the  flight  of  those  troops,  who  had  also  drawn 
along  with  them  the  rest  of  his  forces.  It  is  true, 
they  were  the  first  to  flee ;  and  equally  true,  that 
their  example  may  have  had  the  effect  of  producing 
general  alarm  ;  but  in  point  of  advantageous  situa- 
tion, the  troops  materially  differed :  the  one  party 
were  exposed,  and  enfeebled  by  the  mamier  of  their 
arrangement;  the  other,  though  superior  in  numbers, 
covered  no  greater  extent  of  ground,  and  were  de.. 
25 


290  LIFE  OF  UKNERAL  JACKSON. 

I 

fended  by  an  excellent  breastwork,  and  sever&l 
pieces  of  cannon :  with  this  difference,  the  loss  of 
confidence  of  the  former  was  not  without  sufficient 
cause.    Of  these  facts  Commodore  Patterson  was 

not  apprized  ;  General  Morgan  was :  both,  however,  '; 

attributed  the  disaster  to  the  flight  of  the  Kentucky  I 

militia.    Upon  their  information  General  Jackson  I 

founded  his  report  to  the  secretary  of  war,  by  i 
which  those   troops   were  exposed  to  censures 

they  did  not  merit.    Had  all  the  circumstances,  as  , 

they  existed,  been  disclosed,  reproach  would  have  I 

been  prevented.    At  tlie  mill-race,  no  troops  coiild  1 

have  behaved  better:  they  were  well  posted,  and  , 

bravely  resisted  the  advance  of  the  enemy,  nor,  un-  j 
»il  an  order  to  that  effect  was  given,  had  entertain- 

eu  a  thought  of  retreating.  ' 

The  heart-feit  joy  at  the  glorious  victory  achiev- 
ed on  one  side  of  the  river  was  clouded  by  the  dis-  i 
aster  witnessed  on  the  other.  A  position  was  gain-  | 
ed  which  secured  to  the  enemy  advantages  the  j 
most  important ;  and  whence  our  whole  line,  on  the  ' 
left  bank,  could  be  severely  annoyed.  But  for  the  j 
precaution  of  Commodore  Patterson,  in  spiking  his  i 
guns,  and  destroying  the  ammunition,  it  would  have  | 
been  in  the  power  of  Colonel  Thornton  to  have  com-  j 
pletely  enfiladed  our  line  of  defence,  and  rendered  I 
it  untenable.  Fearful  lest  the  guns  might  be  un-  ] 
spiked,  and  brought  to  operate  against  him,  General 
Jackson  hastened  to  throw  detachments  across,  with  | 
orders  to  regain  the  position  at  every  hazard.  To 
the  troops  on  the  right  bank,  he  forwarded  an  ad-  j 
dress,  with  a  view  to  excite  them  to  deeds  of  val-  i 
our,  and  inspirit  them  to  exertions  that  should  wipe  i 
off  the  reproach  they  had  drawn  upon  themselves,  1 
Provrouely,  however;  to  their  being  in  readiness  to  ! 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON.  291 


act,  he  succeeded  by  stratagem  in  re-obtaining  his 
lost  position,  and  thus  spared  the  effusion  of  blood. 

The  loss  of  the  British,  in  the  main  attack  on  the 
left  bank,  has  been  variously  stated.  The  killed, 
wounded,  and  prisoners,  ascertained,  on  the  next 
day  after  the  battle,  by  Colonel  Hayne,  the  inspec- 
tor-general, places  it  at  twenty-six  hundred.  Gen- 
eral Lambert's  report  to  Lord  Bathurst  makes  it 
but  two  thousand  and  seventy.  From  prisoners, 
however,  and  information  derived  through  other 
sources,  it  must  have  been  even  greater  than  is 
stated  by  either.  Among  tliem  was  the  command- 
er-in-chief, and  Major-General  Gibbs,  who  died  of 
his  wounds  the  next  day,  besides  many  of  their 
most  distinguished  officers ;  while  the  loss  of  the 
Americans,  in  killed  and  wounded,  was  but  thir- 
teen.* 

It  appears  to  have  been  made  a  question  by  the 
British  officers,  if  it  would  not  be  more  advisable  to 
carry  GenersJ  Morgan's  line,  and  refrain  from  any 
attempt  on  this  side  the  river.  It  was  believed, 
that,  if  successful  in  this  attack,  they  would  be  able 
to  force  General  Jackson  from  his  intrenchment, 
and  pass  with  the  main  body  of  the  army  to  the  city. 
A  letter  found  in  the  possession  of  Captain  Wilkin- 
son, a  British  officer,  who  fell  in  the  battle,  to  a 
friend  at  home,  in  the  war  department,  speaking  on 
this  subject,  shows  that  a  difference  of  opinion  pre- 

*  Our  effective  force,  at  the  line  on  tlie  left  bank,  was  tliree 
thousand  seven  hundred ;  that  of  the  enemy  at  least  nine  thousand. 
The  force  landed  in  Louisiana  has  been  variously  reported ;  the 
best  information  places  it  at  about  fourteen  tliousand.  A  part  of 
ihis  acted  with  Colonel  Thornton;  the  climate  bad  rendered  many 
unfit  for  the  duties  of  the  field  ;  while  a  considerable  number  had 
been  killed  and  wounded  in  the  different  coniests  since  their  arri- 
*aL  Their  strength,  therefore,  may  be  fairly  estimated,  on  the 
Cch,  at  the  nuoiber  we  have  stated  ;  at  any  rate,  not  less 


292  LIFE   OF  GENERAL  JACKSON.  ' 

vailed,  and  confesses  his  own  as  being  decidedly  in  ' 
favour  of  a  vigorous  attack  on  both  sides.    It  bears  ] 
date  late  on  the  night  of  the  7th,  nor  does  it  appear,  | 
although  he  was  a  captain  and  brigade-major,  that 
he,  at  that  time,  knew  whether  an  assault  was  se 
riously  intended  against  Jackson's  line,  or  was  de- 
signed as  a  feint,  to  aid  the  operations  of  Colonel 
Thornton.    With  the  true  spirit  of  a  British  officer,  ' 
however,  he  indulged  a  hope  of  success, — enter- 
tained no  fears  for  the  result,  nor  doubted  but  that  i 
the  Americans  would  at  once  retire  before  their  i 
superior  skill  and  bravery.    A  general  order,  which 
must  have  been  communicated  after  he  had  written,  j 
disclosing  the  manner  of  attack,  on  the  left,  where  | 
he  acted,  was  also  found  with  the  letter.    In  that 
the  fusileers  and  light  troops  were  instructed,  aftei 
reaching  our  line,  to  act  as  a  pursuing  squadron, 
and  keep  up  alarm,  while  the  army  on  the  right 
should  press  closely  in  the  rear  and  support  them,  j 
It  breathes  an  assurance  of  success,  and  shows  with  ! 
what  anxiety  they  looked  to  the  approaching  morn-  i 
ing,  as  likely  to  bring  with  it  a  successful  termina- 
tion of  their  labours,  and  a  triumph  over  a  foe  | 
whose  advantages,  more  than  bravery,  they  suppos-  ' 
ed,  had  so  long  baffled  their  efforts. 

Let  it  be  remembered  of  that  gallant  but  mis-  i 
guided  general,  who  has  been  so  much  deplored  by  ; 
the  British  nation,  that,  to  the  cupidity  of  his  sol-  i 
diers,  he  promised  the  wealth  of  the  city,  as  a  rec- 
ompense for  their  gallantry ;  while,  with  brutal  i 
licentiousness,  they  were  to  revel  in  lawless  indul-  ' 
gence,  uncontrolled,  over  female  innocence.  Scenes  < 
like  these,  our  nation,  insulted,  had  already  witness-  ■ 
ed  ;  she  had  witnessed  them  at  Hampton  and  Havre-  i 
de-Grace  :  but  it  was  reserved  for  her  yet  to  learn  ' 


i 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON 


293 


that  an  officer  of  the  standing  of  Sir  Edward  Pack- 
enham,  polisiied,  generous,  and  brave,  should,  to 
induce  his  soldiers  to  acts  of  daring  valour,  permit 
them,  as  a  reward,  to  insult  and  injure  those  whom 
all  mankind,  even  savages,  respect.  The  facta 
which  were  presented  at  the  time  of  this  transac- 
tion left  no  doubt  on  the  minds  of  our  officers,  but 
that  "  Beauty  and  Booty"  was  the  watch-word  of 
the  day.  The  information  was  obtained  from  pris- 
oners, and  confirmed  by  the  books  of  two  of  their 
orderly-sergeants  taken  in  battle,  which  contained 
record  proof  of  the  fact. 

A  communication,  shortly  after,  from  Major-Gen- 
eral  Lambert,  on  whom,  in  consequence  of  the  fall 
of  Generals  Packenham,  Gibbs,  and  Keane,  the  com- 
mand had  devolved,  acknowledges  that  he  had  wit- 
nessed the  kindness  of  our  troops  to  his  wounded. 
He  solicited  of  General  Jackson  permission  to  send 
an  unarmed  party  to  bury  the  dead,  lying  before  his 
lines,  and  to  bring  ofi"  such  of  the  wounded  as  were 
dangerous.  The  request  to  bury  the  dead  was 
granted.  General  Jackson  refused  to  permit  a  near 
approach  to  his  line,  but  consented  that  the  wound- 
ed, who  were  at  a  greater  distance  than  three  hun- 
dred yards  from  the  intrenchment,  should  be  re- 
lieved, and  the  dead  buried  :  those  nearer  were,  by 
his  own  men,  to  be  delivered  over,  to  be  interred 
by  their  countrymen.  This  precaution  was  taken, 
that  the  enemy  might  not  have  an  opportunity  to 
inspect,  or  know  any  thing  of  his  situation. 

General  Lambert,  desirous  of  administering  to  the 
wants  of  ihe  wounded,  and  that  he  might  be  reliev- 
ed from  his  apprehensions  of  attack,  proposed,  about 
noon,  that  hostUiiies  should  cease  until  the  same 
hour  the  next  day.  General  Jackson,  cherishing 
25* 


294  MFE   OF   GENERAL  JACKSON.  ] 

the  hope  of  being  able  to  secure  an  important  act-  ! 
vantage,  by  his  apparent  willingness  to  accede  tc  ! 
the  proposal,  drew  up  an  armistice,  and  forward- 
ed it  to  General  Lambert,  with  directions  for  it  to  i 
be  immediately  returned  if  approved.    It  contain-  I 
ed  a  stipulation  to  this  effect — that  hostilities,  on 
the  left,  bank  of  the  river,  should  be  discontinued 
from  its  ratification,  but  on  the  right  bank  they  I 
should  not  cease  ;  and  that,  in  the  interim,  under 
no  circumstances  were  re-enforcements  to  be  sent 
across  by  either  parly.    This  was  a  bold  stroke  at 
stratagem ;  and,  although  it  succeeded,  even  to  the 
extent  desired,  was  attended  with  considerable  haz- 
ard.   Re-enforcements  had  been  ordered  over  to  | 
retake  the  position  lost  by  Morgan  in  the  morning,  | 
and  the  general  presumed  they  had  arrived  at  their 
point  of  destination  ;  but,  at  this  time,  they  had  not 
passed  the  river,  nor  could  it  be  expected  to  be  re-  '■ 
taken  with  the  same  troops  who  had  yielded  it  the  ^ 
day  before,  when  possessed  of  advantages  which 
gave  them  a  decided  superiority :  this  the  com- 
manding general  well  knew  ;  yet,  lo  spare  tlie  sac- 
rifice of  his  men,  which,  in  regaining  it,  he  foresaw  ] 
must  be  considerable,  he  was  disposed  to  venture  i 
upon  a  course,  which,  he  fell  assured,  could  not  fail  ] 
to  succeed.    It  was  impossible  his  object  could  be  I 
discovered  ;  while  he  confidently  believed  the  Brit-  j 
ish  commander  would  infer,  from  the  prompt  man-  . 
ner  in  which  his  proposal  had  been  met,  that  such  ' 
additional  troops  were  already  thrown  over,  as  ; 
would  be  fully  adequate  co  the  purposes  of  attack, 
and  greatly  to  endanger,  if  not  wholly  lo  cut  off,  " 
Colonel  Thornton's  retreat.     General  Lambert's 
construction  was  such  as  had  been  anticipated.  Al-  ; 
though  the  armistice  contained  a  request  that  it 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON.  f»95 

should  be  immediately  signed  and  returned,  il  was 
neglected  to  be  acted  upon  until  the  next  day ;  and 
Thornton  and  his  command  were,  in  the  interim, 
under  cover  of  the  night,  re-crossed,  and  the  ground 
they  occupied  left  to  be  peaceably  possessed  by  the 
original  holders.  The  opportunity  thus  afTorded  of 
regaining  a  position  on  which,  in  a  great  degree, 
depended  the  safety  of  those  on  the  opposite  shore, 
was  accepted  with  an  avidity  its  importance  merit- 
ed, and  immediate  measures  taken  to  increase  its 
Btrength,  and  prepare  it  against  any  future  attack 
that  might  be  made.  This  delay  of  the  British  com- 
mander was  evidently  designed,  that,  pending  the 
negotiation,  and  before  it  was  concluded,  an  oppor- 
tunity might  be  had,  either  of  throwing  over  re-en- 
forcements, or  removing  Colonel  Thornton  and  his 
troops  from  a  situation  so  extremely  perilous.  Early 
next  morning,  General  Lambert  returned  his  ac- 
ceptance of  what  had  been  proposed,  with  an  apol- 
ogy for  having  failed  to  reply  sooner  :  he  excused 
the  omission,  by  pleading  a  press  of  business,  which 
had  occasioned  tlie  communication  to  be  overlooked, 
.lackson  was  at  no  loss  to  attribute  the  delay  to  the 
correct  motive :  the  apology,  however,  was  as  per- 
fectly satisfactory  to  him  as  any  thing  that  could  have 
been  offered  ;  beyond  the  object  intended  to  be  effect 
ed,  he  felt  unconcerned,  and,  having  secured  this, 
rested  perfectly  satisfied.  It  cannot,  however,  ap- 
pear otherwise  than  extraordinary,  that  this  neglect 
should  have  been  ascribed  by  the  British  general  to 
accident,  or  a  press  of  business,  when  it  must  have 
been,  no  doubt,  of  greater  importance,  at  that  mo- 
ment, than  any  thing  which  he  could  possibly  have 
bad  before  him. 


296  UPE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON.  | 

The  armistice  was  this  morning  (9th  of  January) 
concluded,  and  agreed  to  continue  until  two  o'clock  j 
m  the  evening.  The  dead  and  wounded  were  now  \ 
removed  from  the  field,  which,  for  three  hundred 
yards  in  front  of  our  line  of  defence,  they  almost 
literally  covered.  For  the  reason  already  suggest- 
ed, our  soldiers,  within  the  line  of  demarcation  be- 
tween the  two  camps,  delivered  over  to  the  British, 
who  were  not  permitted  to  cross  it,  the  dead  for 
burial,  and  the  wounded  on  parole,  for  which  it  was 
stipulated,  an  equal  number  of  American  prisoners 
should  be  restored. 

It  has  seldom  happened  that  officers  were  more 
deceived  in  their  expectations  than  tliey  were  in 
the  result  of  this  battle,  or  atoned  more  severely  for 
their  error :  their  reasoning  had  never  led  them  to 
conclude,  that  militia  would  maintain  their  ground  , 
when  warmly  assailed  :  a  firm  belief  was  enter-  ' 
tained,  that,  alarmed  at  the  appearance  and  orderly  | 
approach  of  veteran  troops,  tliey  would  at  once  for-  j 
sake  the  contest,  and  in  flight  seek  for  safety.    At  \ 
what  part  of  our  line  they  were  stationed,  was  as-  1 
certained  by  a  deserter,  on  tlie  6th  ;  and,  influenced 
by  a  belief  of  their  want  of  nerve,  and  deficiency  in  ' 
bravery,  on  this  point  the  main  assault  was  urged,  j 
They  were  indeed  militia ;  but  the  enemy  could  ' 
have  assailed  no  part  of  our  intrenchment  where  I 
they  would  have  met  a  warmer  reception,  or  where 
they  would  have  found  greater  strength :  it  waa 
indeed  the  best  defended  part  of  the  Ime.    The  ' 
Kentucky  and  Tennessee  troops,  under  Generala  ' 
Carroll,  Thomas  and  Adair,  were  here,  who  had  ] 
already  won  a  reputation  that  was  too  dear  to  be  ' 

eacrificed.    These  divisions,  alternately  charging  j 

i 

I 


I 


LIFE  OP  GENERAL  JACKSON. 


297 


their  pieces,  and  mounting  the  platform,  poured  I 

forth  a  constant  fire,  that  was  impossible  to  be  | 

withstood,  repelled  the  advancing  columns,  and  | 
drove  them  from  the  field  with  prodigious  slaugh- 
ter. 

There  ia  one  fact  told,  to  which  general  credit  | 

seems  to  be  attached,  and  which  clearly  shows  the  I 
opinion  had  by  liie  British  of  our  militia,  and  the 

little  fear  which  was  entertained  of  any  determined  ' 
opposition  from  them.    When  repulsed  from  our 

line,  the  British  officers  were  fully  persuaded  thai  , 

the  information  given  them  by  the  deserter,  on  the  j 

night  of  the  6th,  was  false,  and  that,  instead  of  i 

pointing  out  the  ground  defended  by  the  mUitia,  he  ! 

had  referred  them  to  the  place  occupied  by  our  best  ] 

troops.    Enraged  at  what  they  believed  an  inten-  | 

tional  deception,  they  called  their  informant  before  ^ 
them,  to  account  for  the  mischief    It  was  in  vain 

he  urged  his  innocence,  and,  with  the  most  solemn  j 

protestations,  declared  he  had  stated  the  fact  truly.  j 

They  could  not  be  convinced, — it  was  impossible  ; 

tliat  they  had  contended  against  any  but  the  best  i 
disciplined  troops ;  and,  without  further  ceremony, 

the  poor  fellow,  suspended  in  view  of  the  camp,  ex-  i 

piated,  on  a  tree,  not  his  crime,  for  what  he  had  ' 

stated  was  true,  but  their  error,  in  underrating  an  | 
enemy  who  had  already  afforded  abundant  evidences 

of  valour.  In  aU  their  future  trials  with  our  coun-  i 
trymen  may  thev  be  no  less  deceived! 


i 


298  LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON- 


CHAPTER  XI. 

Brnnbardment  of  Fort  St.  PItilip. — British  army  retire  to  their 
ihipping. — General  Jackson,  wiili  his  troops,  returns  to  New 
Orlians. — Day  of  tlianksgiving. — Reduction  of  Fort  Bowyer.  i 
— Legislature  of  Louisiarui  re-commence  their  session. — Discon^  ' 
tents  fomenltd  anionic  the  American  troops. — Arrest  of  Zjouaii'  i 
iier ;  of  Judge  Halt. — Peace  announced. — General  Jackson  is 
prosecuted  for  contempt  of  court ;  his  apoearance  in  court. — 
Speech  at  tlie  coffee-house. — His  own  opinion  of  marttal  law. — 
Troops  are  discliarged,  and  the  general  returns  to  NashvitJe.— 
Beduction  oj  the  army. — Jacksonfs  commission  as  general  annul 
led. —  Treaty  wUli  Spain. — He  is  appointed  governor  of  the  Flor- 
idas. —  Transactioits  titere. — His  resignation. — He  is  appointea 
minister  to  Mexico  ;  declines  the  mission ;  his  reasons  ;  is  elect'  \ 
ed  a  senator  of  the  United  States  ;  resigns  tlie  office. — His  i 
person  and  cltaracter. — Anecdotes, — Conclusion  ! 

The  conflict  had  ended,  and  each  army  occupied 
its  former  position.    The  enemy  were  visibly  alter- 
ed :  menace  was  sunk  into  dejection,  and  offensive  I 
measures  yielded  to  those  which  promised  safety  I 
They  were  perceived  to  be  erecting  partial  defences,  I 
to  guard  against  expected  attack.    It  had  been  an-  I 
nounced,  that  a  considerable  force  had  succeeded  in  I 
passing  the  Balize — made  prisoners  of  a  detach- 
ment, and  was  proceeding  up  the  Mississippi,  to  co- 
operate with  the  land  forces :  it  was  intended  to  i 
aid  in  the  battle  of  the  8th.    The  enemy,  it  seem- 
ed probable,  might  again  renew  the  attack,  on  the  ' 
arrival  of  this  force,  and  every  preparation  waa  in  ] 
progress  to  be  again  in  readiness.  j 

Of  this  formidable  advance  no  certain  intelli-  ( 
gence  was  received  until  the  night  of  the  11th, 
when  a  heavy  cannonading,  supposed  to  be  on  Fori  ' 
St.  Philip,  was  distinctly  heard.    Jackson  entertain-  I 
ed  no  fears  for  the  result.    The  advantages  in  de-  I 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON.              299  ( 

I 

fence,  which  his  precaution  had  early  extended  to  j 
this  passage  to  the  city,  added  to  an  entire  confi- 
dence in  the  skill  of  the  officer  to  whom  it  had  j 
been  confided,  led  him  to  believe  there  was  nothing 
to  be  apprehended.    The  enemy's  squadron,  con-  | 
eisting  of  two  bomb  vessels,  a  brig,  sloop,  and  | 
schooner,  were  discovered  by  the  videttes,  from  j 
Fort  Bourbon,  on  the  morning  of  the  9th,  directing 
their  course  up  the  river ;  signals  were  made,  in-  | 
formation  communicated,  and  every  thing  was  in 
readiness  to  receive  them.    About  ten  o'clock,  hav- 
ing approached  within  striking  distance,  an  assault  j 
was  commenced  on  the  fort,  and  an  immense  quan-  | 
tity  of  bombs  and  balls  was  discharged  against  it 
A  severe  and  well-directed  fire  from  our  water  bat-  ' 
tery  soon  compelled  them  to  retire  about  two  miles.  ! 
At  this  distance,  the  enemy  was  possessed  of  de-  ' 
cided  advantages, — having  it  in  their  power  to  reach  , 
the  fort  with  the  shot  from  their  large  mortars,  while  | 
they  were  entirely  without  the  range  of  ours.  : 
The  assault  continued  without  much  intermission,  ! 
from  the  9th  until  the  night  of  the  17th.    They  had  i 
hitherto  lain  beyond  the  efiective  range  of  our  shot,  j 
and  although,  from  their  large  mortars,  the  fort  had  ^ 
been  constantly  reached,  and  pierced  in  innumera-  , 
ble  places,  stUl,  such  an  efiect  had  not  been  pro-  ] 
duced,  as  to  justify  a  belief,  that  they  could  now,  i 
more  than  at  the  moment  of  their  arrival,  venture 
to  pass.     A  heavy  mortar  having  been  turned  ^ 
against  them  on  the  17th,  the  security  they  had 
hitherto  enjoyed  was  taken  away :  their  vessels  | 
could  now  be  reached  with  considerable  efiect.  | 
This  circumstance,  and  an  ineffectual  bombardment,  j 
which,  though  continued  for  eight  days,  had  secuf-  I 
ed  no  decided  advantage,  induced  them  to  suspend  I 


800  LIFE  UF  GENERAL  JACKSON.  i 

I 

all  further  efforts  ;  and,  on  the  morning  of  the  18th,  i 
they  retired.  j 
Major  Overton,  who  commanded  at  tiiis  place,  I 
his  officers  and  soldiers,  distinguished  themselves.  | 
To  arrest  the  enemy's  passage  up  the  river,  and 
prevent  them  from  uniting  with  the  forces  below  the  j 
city,  was  of  great  importance ;  and  to  succeed  in  j 
tliis  was  as  much  as  could  be  expected.    So  long,  i 
therefore,  as  they  kept  at  a  distance,  nor  attempted  \ 
a  final  accomplishment  of  their  object,  no  other  con-  i 
cern  was  felt  than  to  watch  their  manojuvres,  and  j 
adopt  such  a  course  as  should  afford  safety  to  the  ' 
troops  in  the  garrison :  for  this  purpose,  pieces  of 
timber  and  scantling  were  used,  which  formed  a  ' 
cover,  and  gave  protection  from  their  bombs.    The  I 
store  of  ammunition  was  also  divided,  and  buried  in  | 
different  places  in  the  earth,  that,  in  the  event  of  I 
accident,  the  whole  might  not  be  lost.    During  the 
period  of  the  bombardment,  which  lasted  with  little  i 
intermission  for  nine  days,  sleep  was  almost  a  stran-  ' 
ger  in  the  fort.  The  niglit  was  the  time  when  most  I 
of  all  it  was  feared  the  enemy,  aided  by  the  dark- 
ness, and  some  fortunate  breeze,  would  have  it  in 
their  power  to  ascend  the  river,  in  despite  of  every 
opposition  :  the  constant  activity,  which  was  neces- 
sary, prevented  all  opportunities  for  repose.    On  a 
tempestuous  night,  the  wind  setting  fair  to  aid  them, 
an  attempt  was  made  to  pass :  to  divert  the  atten-  ; 
tion  of  the  fort,  and  favour  the  chances  for  ascent,  j 
their  boats  were  sent  forward  to  commence  an  at-  i 
tack.    In  this  they  were  disappointed,  and  compel-  ] 
led  to  abandon  the  undertaking.    At  length,  after  ! 
many  fruitless  efforts,  and  an  immense  waste  of  la-  ; 
hour  and  ammunitijn,  they  retired  without  effecting 


i 


LIFE  OF  GENER.VL  JACKSON.  301  I 


their  purpose,  or  producing,  to  us,  a  greater  injury  :, 
than  the  loss  of  nine  of  tlie  garrison,  who  were  kill-  I 
ed  and  wounded.  | 
The  failure  of  this  squadron  to  ascend  the  river,  ' 
perhaps,  determined  General  Lambert  in  the  course 
which  he  immediately  adopted.    His  situation  be- 
fore our  line  was  truly  an  unpleasant  one.    Our  j 
batteries,  after  the  8th,  wore  continually  throwing 
balls  and  bombs  into  his  camp  ;  and  wherever  a 
party  of  troops  appeared  in  the  field,  they  were  i 
greatly  annoyed.    Thus  harassed, — perceiving  all  ^ 
assistance  through  this  channel  had  failed,  and  i 
constantly  in  apprehension  lest  an  attack  should  be  i 
made  upon  him, — he  resolved  on  availing  himself  , 
of  the  first  favourable  opportunity  to  depart,  and 
forsake  a  contest  where  every  effort  had  met  dis-  j 
appointment,  and  where  an  inmiense  number  of  his 
troops  had  found  their  graves.    The  more  certainly  i 
to  efiect  a  retreat  in  safety,  detachments  had  been 
sent  out  to  remove  every  obstruction  that  could  re- 
tard their  progress  through  the  swamp.    To  give 
greater  facility  to  his  departure,  strong  redoubts 
were  erected  on  the  way,  and  bridges  thrown  across 
every  creek  and  bayou  that  obstructed  the  passage.  ', 
Every  thing  being  thus  prepared,  on  the  night  of  1 
the  18th,  General  Lambert  silently  decamped,  and,  j 
proceeding  towards  the  lake,  embarked  for  his  sh'p-  j 
ping,  leaving,  and  recommending  to  the  clemency  : 
of  the  American  general,  eighty  of  his  soldiers,  who  ! 
were  too  severely  wounded  to  be  removed.  With 
such  silence  was  this  decampment  managed,  that 
not  the  slightest  intelligence  was  communicated,  , 
even  to  our  sentinels  occupying  the  out-posts.  Early  I 
on  the  next  morning,  the  enemy's  camp  was  perceiv-  , 
ed  to  be  evacuated  ;  but  what  had  become  of  them,  | 
26  I 


302  LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON. 


1 


and  whither  they  had  gone,  could  only  be  conjec- 
tured :  no  information  on  the  subject  was  possessed. 
To  ascertain  the  cause  of  this  new  appearance  of  | 
things,  detachments  were  in  readiness  to  reconnoi-  | 
tre  their  camp,  when  Surgeon  Wadsdale,  of  the  j 
staff,  arrived  at  our  line,  with  a  letter  to  General 
Jackson,  from  the  British  commander,  announcing 
his  determination  to  suspend,  "  for  the  present,  all 
further  operations  against  New  Orleans,"  and  re- 
questing his  humanity  towards  the  wounded  he  had  j 
left,  whom  necessity  had  compelled  him  to  abandon.  ] 

Detachments  were  sent  out  to  ascertain  the  cause  | 
of  this  unexpected  state  of  things  ;  with  orders  to  | 
harass  their  rear,  if  a  retreat  were  really  intended,  j 
But  the  precaution  taken  by  the  enemy,  and  the  i 
ground  over  which  they  were  retreating,  prevented 
pursuit  in  sufficient  numbers  to  secure  any  valua-  | 
ble  result.  i 

Thus,  in  total  disappointment,  terminated  an  in- 
vasion from  which  much  had  been  expected.  Twen- 
ty-six days  before,  flushed  with  the  hope  of  cortain 
victory,  had  this  army  erected  its  standard  on  the  ; 
banks  of  the  Mississippi.    At  that  moment,  they 
would  have  treated  with  contempt  an  assertion,  that 
in  ten  days  they  would  not  enter  the  city  of  New  ; 
Orleans.    How  changed  the  portrait  from  the  ex-  | 
pected  reality !    But  a  few  days  since,  and  they 
were  confident  of  a  triumph,  and  n  termination  of  j 
their  labours  :  now,  vanquished  and  cut  to  pieces,  j 
at  midnight,  under  the  cover  of  its  darkness,  they  are  j 
found  silently  abandoning  their  camp, — breaking  ' 
to  pieces  their  artillery, — fleeing  from  an  enemy,  i 
whom,  but  a  little  while  before,  they  had  held  in  ut- 
ter contempt,  and  submitting  their  wounded  to  his  i 


I 


UFB  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON.  303 


The  enemy  had  indeed  retired,  and,  "  for  the 
present,  relinquished  all  further  operations  against 
New  Orleans  ;"  but  of  what  continuance  their  for- 
bearance would  be,  whether  they  might  not  avail 
themselves  of  the  first  flattering  opportunity  to  re- 
new the  struggle,  and  wipe  off  the  stain  of  a  defeat 
so  wholly  unexpected,  could  not  be  known.  The 
hopes  and  expectations  indulged  in  England,  of  the 
success  of  this  expedition,  had  inspirited  the  whole 
army ;  and  failure  had  never  been  anticipated. 
They  had  now  retired  ;  yet,  from  their  convenient 
situation,  and  having  conmiand  of  the  surrounding 
waters,  it  was  in  their  power,  at  a  short  notice,  to 
re-appear,  at  the  same,  or  some  more  favourable 
point,  cause  a  repetition  of  the  hardships  already 
encountered,  and,  perhaps,  succeed  in  the  accom- 
plishment of  their  views.  These  considerations  led 
General  Jackson  to  conclude,  that,  although,  for  the 
present,  there  was  an  abandonment  of  the  enter- 
prise, still  it  behooved  him  not  to  relax  in  his  sys- 
tem of  defence ;  but  be  in  constant  readiness  to 
maintain  the  advantages  he  had  gained ;  and  not 
to  risk  a  loss  of  the  country  by  a  careless  indiffer- 
ence, growing  out  of  the  belief  that  danger  had 
subsided. 

The  enemy  being  again  at  their  shipping,  with 
an  entire  control  of  the  lakes  and  gulf,  it  could  not 
be  known  at  what  point  they  might  venture  on  a 
second  attack.  General  Jackson  determined  to 
withdraw  his  troops  from  the  position  they  had  so 
long  occupied,  and  place  them  about  the  city, 
whence,  to  repel  any  further  attempt  that  might  be 
made,  they  could  be  advanced  wherever  it  should 
become  necessary.  The  seventh  regiment  of  ir 
fantry  remained  to  protect  the  point  he  was  lea,ving ; 


304  LIFE  OP  GENERAL  JACKSON 


1 


while,  farther  in  advance,  on  Villery's  Canal,  where 
a  landing  liad  been  first  effected,  were  posted  a  de- 
tachment of  Kentucky  and  Louisiana  militia.  To 
secure  this  point  more  effectually,  orders  were  j^iv- 
en,  on  the  22d,  to  throw  up  a  strong  fortification  at 
the  junction  of  Manzant  and  Bayou  Bienvenu  ;  which 
order  was  again  attempted  to  be  executed  on  the 
25th.  On  both  occasions  failure  was  the  result, 
from  the  circumstance  of  the  enemy  having,  on 
their  retreat,  left  a  strong  guard  at  this  place, 
which,  from  its  situation,  defied  approach  by  a  force 
competent  to  its  reduction.  Their  occupying  this 
position  was  looked  to  as  a  circumstance  wljich  af- 
forded strong  evidence  that  further  hostilities  were 
not  wholly  abandoned.  To  counteract,  however, 
any  advantages  which  might  thence  be  derived,  dif- 
ferent points  along  the  swamp,  and  in  the  direction 
of  Terra  au  Bceuf,  were  occupied,  and  strong  works 
erected. 

These  arrangements  being  made,  calculated,  if  not 
to  prevent,  to  give  intelligence  of  an  approach  in 
time  to  be  resisted,  on  the  20th  of  January,  Gene- 
ral Jackson,  with  his  remaining  forces,  commenced 
his  march  to  New  Orleans.  The  general  glow  ex- 
cited at  beholding  his  entrance  into  the  city,  at  the 
head  of  a  victorious  army,  was  manifested  by  all 
those  feelings  which  patriotism  inspires.  The  win- 
dows and  streets  were  crowded,  to  view  the  man 
who  had  preserved  the  country  It  was  a  scene 
well  calculated  to  excite  the  toiidorcst  emotions. 
Fathers,  sons,  and  husbands,  urged  by  the  necessity 
of  the  times,  were  toiling  in  defence  of  their  wives 
and  children.  A  ferocious  soldiery,  skilled  in  the 
art  of  war,  and  to  whom  every  indulgence  had  been 
promised,  were  straining  to  effect  their  object.  The 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON.  305 


tender  female,  relieved  from  the  anguish  of  sus- 
pense, no  longer  trembled  for  her  safety  and  her 
honour :  a  new  order  of  things  had  arisen :  joy 
sparkled  in  every  countenance ;  while  scarcely  a 
widow  or  an  orphan  was  seen,  to  cloud  tlie  general 
transport.  The  general,  under  whose  banners  ev- 
ery thing  had  been  achieved,  deliberate,  and  spar- 
ing of  the  lives  of  the  brave,  had  dispelled  the  storm 
which  had  so  long  threatened  the  ruin  of  thousands ; 
and  was  now  restoring,  unhurt,  those  who  had  with 
him  maintained  the  contest.  His  approach  was 
hailed  with  acclamations.  All  greeted  his  return, 
and  hailed  him  as  their  deliverer. 

The  23d  having  been  appointed  a  day  of  prayer 
and  thanksgiving  for  the  happy  deliverance  effect- 
ed by  our  arms,  Jackson  repaired  to  the  cathedral. 
The  church  and  altar  were  splendidly  decorated, 
and  more  than  could  obtain  admission  had  crowded 
to  witness  the  ceremony.  A  grateful  recollection 
of  his  exertions  to  save  the  country  was  cherished 
by  ail ;  nor  did  the  solemnity  of  the  occasion,  even 
here,  restrain  a  manifestation  of  their  regard,  or  in- 
duce them  to  withhold  the  honour  he  had  so  nobly 
earned.  Children,  robed  in  white,  and  represent- 
ing the  different  states,  were  employed  in  strew- 
ing the  way  with  flowers ;  while,  as  he  passed,  a 
flattering  ode,  produced  for  the  occasion,  saluted 
his  ears  : — 

Hail  to  the  chief!  who  hied  at  wai's  alarms 
To  save  our  threatened  land  from  hostile  arms; 
Preserved,  protected  by  his  gallaDt  care, 
Be  his  the  grateful  tribute  of  each  fair : 
WitJi  joyful  triumph  swell  the  choral  lay — 
Strew,  strew  with  flow'rs  the  hero's  welcom.e  way. 
Jackson,  all  hail ! — our  country's  pride  and  boast^ 
Whose  mind's  a  council,  and  liis  arm  a  host  ■ 

26  * 


306 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON. 


1 


Welcome,  blest  chief !  accept  our  grateful  lays, 

Unbidden  homage,  and  sponlanoous  praise) 
Remembrance  iong  shall  keep  alive  thy  fame, 
And  future  infants  Icaru  to  lisp  thy  name. 

When  the  general  reached  the  church,  Dubourg',  | 
the  reverend  administrator  of  the  diocess,  met  him 
at  the  door.    Addressing  him  in  a  strain  oi  pious 
eloquence,  he  entreated  him  to  remember,  that  his 
splendid  achievements,  which  were  echoed  from 
every  tongue,  were  to  be  ascribed  to  Ilim  to  whom  ' 
all  praise  was  due.  "  Let  the  votary  of  blind  chance,"  | 
continued  he,  "  deride  our  credulous  simplicity.  Let  j 
the  cold-hearted  atheist  look  for  an  e.xplanation  of  | 
important  events  to  the  mere  concatenation  of  hu- 
man causes  :  to  us,  the  whole  world  is  loud  in  pro- 
claiming a  Supreme  Ruler,  who,  as  he  holds  the 
destiny  of  man  in  his  hands,  iiolds  also  the  thread  ' 
of  all  contingent  occurrences  :  from  his  lofty  throne,.  " 
he  moves  every  scene  below, — infuses  his  wisdom  in- 
to the  rulers  of  nations,  and  executes  his  uncontrolla- 
ble judgments  on  the  sons  of  men,  according  to  the 
dictates  of  his  own  unerring  justice."    He  conclud-  i 
ed  his  impressive  address,  by  presenting  the  gene-  I 
ral  with  a  wreath  of  laurel,  woven  for  the  occasion,  '< 
and  which  he  desired  him  to  accept  as  "  a  prize  of  i 
victory." 

General  Jackson  accepted  the  pledge,  presented  1 
as  a  mark  of  distinguished  favour  by  the  reverend  | 
prelate,  and  returned  him  a  reply  no  less  impressive 
than  the  address  he  had  received.    He  was  now 
conducted  in,  and  seated  near  the  altar,  when  the  ' 
church  ceremonies  were  commenced,  and  inspired 
every  mind  with  a  solemn  reverence  for  the  occa- 
sion.   These  being  ended,  he  retired  to  his  quar- 
ters, to  renew  a  system  of  defence,  which  should 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON.  307 

ensure  entire  safety,  and  ward  off  any  future  dan-  ;] 
get  that  might  arise.    The  right  bank  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi was  now  strengthened  by  additional  re-en-  . 
forcements,  and  a  strong  position  taken  on  La  j 
Fourche,  to  prevent  any  passage  is  that  direction. 
Suitable  arrangements  for  security  having  been  al-  ■ 
ready  made  below  the  city,  Generals  Coffee  and  i 
Carroll  were  instructed  to  resume  their  former  en- 
campment, four  miles  above.   The  rest  of  the  troops  ] 
were  arranged  at  diSerent  points,  where  necessity  j 
seemed  most  to  require  it.  i 

Previously  to  General  Lambert's  departure,  arti- 
cles of  agreement  had  been  entered  into  by  the  ; 
commanders  of  the  two  armies,  for  an  exchange  ot  i 
prisoners ;  in  pursuance  of  which,  sixty-three  | 
Americans,  taken  on  the  night  of  the  23d,  had  j 
been  delivered  up :  the  remainder,  principally  taken  . 
at  the  capture  of  our  gun-boats,  were  afterwards 
.surrendered  by  Admiral  Cochrane,  and  an  equal  i 
number  of  British  prisoners  sent  off  to  be  delivered  j 
at  the  Balize.  ' 

The  enemy  had  now  withdrawn  from  the  shore  i 

the  troops  which  had  been  landed,  and  occupied  1 

their  former  position  at  Cat  and  Ship  Islands.  Mor-  i 

tified  at  their  unexpected  disaster,  they  were  pro-  ) 

jecting  a  plan,  by  which  it  was  expected  a  partial  , 

advantage  might,  perhaps,  be  secured,  and  the  stig-  . 

ma  of  defeat  be  somewhat  obliterated.  i 

Fort  Bowyer  had  been  once  assailed,  with  a  con- 
siderable force,  by  land  and  water,  and  failure  had  : 
resulted.  This  post,  the  key  to  Mobile,  of  infinite  j 
consequence,  had  been  retained  under  the  com- 
mand of  him,  who,  heretofore,  had  defended  it  so  i 
valiantly.  The  British  commander,  turning  from  | 
those  scenes  of  disappointment,  and  anxious  to  re-  | 


I 


308 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON. 


I 


trieve  his  fortunes,  before,  with  his  shattered  and 
diminished  forces,  he  should  retire,  perceived  no 
place  against  which  he  might  proceed  with  better 
founded  hopes  of  success.  I 
On  the  6th  of  February,  the  British  shipping  ap-  ' 
peared  off  Dauphin  Island,  fronting  the  point  on 
which  stood  the  fort,  garrisoned  with  three  hundred  ■' 
and  sixty  men.    Having  made  the  necessary  ar-  j 
rangements,  on  the  8tli  an  attack  was  commenced,  i 
both  from  the  land  and  water.    The  fleet  was  form-  I 
ed  in  two  divisions,  and  approached  within  one  and  j 
two  miles,  bearing  south  and  south-west  from  it 
But  the  principal  attack,  and  that  which  compelled 
a  surrender,  was  from  the  shore,  where  Colonel  , 
NichoUs  and  W oodbine  had  carried  on  their  opera- 
tions in  September.    Five  thousand  troops,  aided  by  ] 
pieces  of  heavy  ordnance,  secured  from  the  fire  of 
our  guns  by  large  embankments,  urged  the  assault,  i 
Under  cover  of  the  two  succeeding  nights,  redoubts  1 
had  been  thrown  up,  and  trenches  cut  through  the 
sand,  which  enabled  them  to  approach  gradually, 
without  being  exposed  to  the  fire  of  our  guns. 
Twice,  on  the  8th,  were  detachments  sent  out,  to  | 
effect  by  storm  the  accomplishment  of  their  pur-  I 
pose  ;  but  the  fire  from  the  fort  compelled  an  aban-  ' 
donment  of  their  course,  and  drove  them  to  the  ne-  | 
cessity  of  approaching  by  trenches,  protected  by  ' 
strong  redoubts.    To  demolish  these  from  the  fort 
was  impracticable  from  their  strength  ;  and  to  at- 
tempt to  prevent  their  erection  by  any  sortie,  witij  i 
80  weak  a  force,  would  have  been  imprudent.  Thus 
situated,  and  every  thing  being  ready  to  attack  the 
fort,  if  opposition  were  still  intended,  about  ten 
o'clock  on  the  11th  the  enemy  hoisted  a  flag:  Major  \ 
Lawrence  raised  another.    Hostilities  ceased,  and 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON. 


809 


General  Lambert  required  a  surrender.    The  offi-  ^ 

cers,  being  convoked,  with  one  consent  agreed  that  , 
further  resistance  would  be  ineffectual,  and  could 

only  lead  to  the  unnecessary  loss  of  many  valuable  ( 
lives.    A  capitulation  was  agreed  on,  and  the  fort 

forthwith  yielded  to  the  enemy.  ! 

General  Winchester,  who  commanded  at  Mobile,  | 

having  received  intelligence  of  what  was  passing  ( 

at  the  point,  ordered  a  detachment  of  a  thousand  ] 
men,  under  Major  Blue,  to  proceed  down  the  bay, 

and  aid  in  its  defence.    This  auxiliary  force  was  too  ' 

late  :  having  surprised  and  captured  one  of  the  en-  ' 
emy's  out  pickets,  consisting  of  seventeen  men,  and 

ascertained  that  a  surrender  had  already  taken  J 
place,  they  returned.    Had  this  detachment  reach 
ed  its  destination,  our  loss  would  have  been  more 
severe.    The  enemy's  forces  were  too  numerous, 

and  their  means  of  attack  too  effectual,  for  any  | 

different  result  to  have  taken  place,  even  had  the  i 

detachment  arrived  in  time.  ] 

It  had  early  been  the  wisi  jf  General  Jackson,  ] 
for  the  large  frigate,  lying  at  Tchifonte,  to  be  com- 
pleted, and  placed  in  defence  of  Fort  Bowyer.  We 

have  before  remarked  the  confidence  entertained  I 

by  him,  that,  with  the  aid  of  this  vessel,  no  force  i 
brought  against  the  place  would  be  competent  to 

its  reduction.    Near  it  is  the  only  channel  a  vessel  1 

of  any  size  can  pass.    This  frigate,  occupying  the  ^ 

passage,  would  have  presented  as  strong  a  battery  i 

as  could  be  brought  against  her,  and,  with  the  aid  \ 

of  the  fort,  defied  any  assault  from  the  water  ;  ; 

while  her  position  would  have  enabled  her  to  have  j 

thrown  her  bombs  and  sliot  across  the  narrow  neck  \ 
of  land,  in  the  rear  of  the  point,  and  arrested  the  ad 

vance  of  any  number  of  troops,  which,  in  this  direc  ' 


1 


310  1,1FE  OP  GENERAL  JACKSON. 


tion,  might  have  attempted  an  approach.    Yet  more 
■money  had  been  disbursed  by  the  government  in 
erecting  shelters,  to  protect  the  frigate  from  the 
weather,  than  would  have  been  sufficient  for  her  i 
completion. 

The  legislature  of  Louisiana  had  re-commenced 
their  session.    Some  of  the  members,  during  the 
past  struggle,  had  forsaken  their  official  duties,  and 
repaired  to  the  field,  where  more  important  services  ' 
■were  to  be  rendered,  and  where  they  had  manifest- 
ed a  devotion  to  the  country  worthy  of  hnitation.  1 
A  much  greater  part,  however,  had  pursued  a  very  | 
opposite  course,  and  stood  aloof  from  the  impending  | 
danger.    The  disposition  they  had  shown,  on  the 
■28th  of  December,  to  propose  a  capitulation,  has  ' 
been  adverted  to  :  how  far  it  was  calculated  to  es-  ' 
trange  the  public  sentiment  from  that  conviction, 
■which  the  commanding  general  had  endeavoured 
to  impress,  "  that  the  country  could  and  would  be  i 
successfully  defended,"  can  be  easily  imagined  ' 
But  with  them  he  had  sinned  beyond  forgiveness.  I 
The  course  he  had  adopted — his  arresting  their  [ 
proceedings,  and  suspending  their  deliberations,  by  ' 
placing  an  armed  force  at  the  door  of  the  capitol  , 
were  viewed  as  intolerable  infringements  upon  le-  1 
gislative  prerogative,  denounced  as  an  abuse  of  | 
power,  and  hence  the  first  opportunity  was  seized  | 
to  exhibit  their  resentment.  ! 

No  sooner  had  the  members  resumed  the  exer-  ' 
■else  of  their  legislativ^e  duties,  than  their  first  con- 
cern was  to  pass  in  review  the  incidents  of  the  last  j 
month.  To  those  who  had  acted  vigilantly  in  the  < 
defence  of  the  state,  and  who,  by  their  toils  and  ex-  ! 
ertions,  had  contributed  to  its  safety,  they  officially  | 
tendered  their  thanks.    In  pursuance  of  their  reso-  : 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL   JACKSON.  311 


lutions,  the  governor  addressed  the  principal  offi 
cera  ;  but  of  Jackson  nothing  was  said.  We  are 
not  disposed  to  censure,  or  even  call  in  question,  the 
conduct  of  this  body,  though  the  circumstances  pre- 
sent no  very  favourable  appearance.  When  dan- 
ger threatened,  they  were  disposed  to  make  terms 
with  tlie  enemy,  by  a  surrender  of  the  city :  from 
this  they  were  prevented  by  a  decision  of  charac- 
ter that  compelled  legislative  to  yield  to  military 
authority.  Greatly  incensed  at  being  thus  unex- 
pectedly restrained  in  the  execution  of  their  de- 
signs, no  sooner  did  they  resume  the  duties  of  their 
station,  than  they  became  lavish  in  the  praise  of 
those  who  pursued  a  course  directly  contrary  to 
their  own  ;  while  in  that  commendation  they  inten- 
tionally neglected  the  very  man,  to  whom  their  sec- 
tion of  the  country  was  indebted  for  its  salvation. 

Appearajices  in  the  American  camp  were  about 
this  time  assuming  an  unfavourable  aspect :  present 
danger  being  removed,  confusion  was  arising,  and 
disaffection  spreading  through  the  ranks.  Pretexts 
were  sought  after  to  escape  the  drudgery  of  the 
field.  Many  naturalized  citizens,  who  had  been 
brought  into  the  service,  to  aid  in  the  general  de- 
fence, were  seeking  exemption  from  further  control, 
and  claiming  to  be  subjects  of  the  king  of  France. 
Some  were  indeed  foreigners  ;  but  most  of  them 
had,  by  naturalization,  become  citizens  of  the  Unit- 
ed States.  Notwithstanding  tliis,  as  French  sub- 
jects, they  were  actually  procuring  exonerations 
through  Monsieur  Toussard,  the  consul  resident  at 
New  Orleans.  No  applicant  ever  went  away  un- 
supplied,  and  hundreds,  for  the  price  of  a  consular 
certificate,  obtained  protections  which  were  to  re- 
lieve them  from  the  drudgery  of  the  field,  and  the 


312              LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON.  ' 

ties  due  to  their  adopted  country     A  flag  was  dii-  i 
played  from  the  consul's  residence,  and  rumour  cir-  ' 
culatod,  that  under  it  every  Frenchman  would  find  | 
protection.   Five  dollars,  the  price  of  the  certificate, 
was  all  that  was  required  of  any  applicant  to  assure,  ! 
through  the  consel,  the  protection  of  the  French 
government.    Harassed  by  such  evils,  every  day  i 
increasing,  and  having  satisfactory  reasons  to  be-  | 
lieve  the  enemy,  then  within  a  few  hours'  sail  of  the  \ 
shore,  were  constantly  advised  of  his  situation,  Jack-  | 
son  determined  to  adopt  such  measures  as  would  at  i 
once  put  down  the  machinations  of  the  designing.  I 
Toussard,  thus  manifesting — what  could  be  consid- 
ered  in  no  other  light — a  warmth  of  attachment  to 
the  English,  and  a  desire  to  aid  them,  for  the  ser-  I 
vices,  perhaps,  which  they  had  given  in  the  restora-  ' 
tion  of  his  monarch,  was  ordered  to  leave  the  city,  , 
retire  to  the  interior  of  the  country,  nor  venture  to  ' 
return,  until  peace  was  restored.    His  countrymen,  i 
also,  who  were  disposed  to  claim  his  protection, 
and  abandon  the  service,  were  ordered  to  fol-  i 
low  hnn,  and,  at  their  peril,  not  to  appear  again- 
about  New  Orleans.    The  general  did  this  with  a 
view  to  his  own  security,  from  a  conviction  that  j 
those  who  could  thus  shamefully  seek  to  avoid  a  ; 
contest,  threatened  against  a  country  which  they  ] 
had  adopted,  would  not  scruple,  if  an  occasion  of-  j 
fered,  to  inflict  any  injury  in  their  power.  I 
Our  own  citizens,  too,  were  giving  rise  to  ditfi-  1 
culties,  and  increasing  the  danger  of  the  moment.  ' 
Mr.  Livingston  had  arrived,  on  the  10th,  from  the 
British  fleet,  whither  he  had  gone  to  effect  a  gen- 
eral cartel :  through  him.  Admiral  Cochrane  had  an- 
nounced the  arrival  of  a  vessel  from  Jamaica,  with  j 
news,  that  a  treaty  of  peace  had  been  agreed  on, 


LITE    OF    GENERAL   JACKSON.  313  | 

and  signed  by  the  two  countries.    This  information  \ 
was  immediately  caught  at  by  the  news-mongers, 
and,  either  from  intention  or  want  of  correct  intel- 
ligence, it  suddenly  appeared  in  the  Louisiana  Ga-  ^ 
zette,  in  an  entirely  different  shape  :  it  stated  the  | 
arrival  of  a  flag  at  head-quarters,  which  announced 
the  conclusion  of  a  peace,  and  requested  a  suspen- 
sion of  hostilities.     It  was  evident  the  effect  of  ( 
each  a  declaration  would  be  to  introduce  lassitude, 
or  perhaps  disafiection,  among  the  troops,  and  induce 
a  belief  that  their  accustomed  vigilance  was  no  long- 
er necessary.  Sensible  of  this.  General  Jackson  sent  , 
for  the  editor,  and  instructed  him  to  alter  what  he  ' 
had  stated,  and  e.xhibit  the  facts,  which  he  now  com-  I 
municatcd  to  him,  truly  as  they  were.    He  adopted  ' 
this  course  from  fear  of  the  consequences  to  be  i 
produced  to  himself   One  thing  he  well  knew,  that  ' 
the  enemy  had  retired  under  circumstances  of  mor- 
tification at  their  complete  discomfiture  ;  nor  was  it  I 
an  improbable  conjecture  that  they  might  yet  seek  I 
an  accomplishment  of  their  views  through  any 
channel  a  hope  of  success  could  be  discerned.  \ 
Might  not  this  annunciation  of  peace,  and  request 
for  the  suspension  of  hostilities,  introduced  through 
the  public  journals,  be  a  device  of  the  enemy  to  in-  j 
duce  a  relaxation  in  his  system  of  operation  ;  to  di-  i 
vert  his  officers  and  soldiers  from  that  activity  so  | 
essential  to  security  ;  to  excite  discontents,  and  a  j 
desire  to  be  discharged  from  the  further  drudg- 
ery of  a  camp  ?    All  these  dangers  he  saw  lurking  i 
beneath  it,  if  false  ;  and,  whether  true  or  false,  it  < 
was  foreign  to  his  duty  to  be  influenced  by  any 
thing,  until  it  should  be  officially  communicated  by 
his  government.    Fearful  of  the  effect  it  might 
produce,  he  lost  no  time  in  addressing  his  army :  i 


3l4  LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON.  < 

I 

«  How  disgraceful,"  he  remarked,  "  as  well  as  disas-  i 
trous,  would  it  be,  if,  by  surremlering  ourselves  j 
credulously  to  newspaper  publications,  often  pro- 
ceeding from  ignorance,  but  more  frequently  from 
dishonest  design,  we  should  permit  an  enemy,  whom 
we  have  so  lately  and  so  gloriously  beaten,  to  re- 
gain the  advantages  he  has  lost,  and  triumph  over  \ 
us  in  turn  !"  A  general  order,  at  the  same  time,  an- 
nounced that  no  publication  relating  to,  or  affect- 
ing the  army,  was  to  be  published  in  any  newspa- 
per, without  permission  first  obtained. 

Notwithstanding  this  prohibition,  shortly  after- 
wards an  anonymous  publication  appeared  in  the 
Courier,  calculated  by  its  inflammatory  character 
to  excite  mutiny  among  the  troops,  and  afibrd  the 
enemy  intelligence  of  the  disposition  of  the  army.  j 
It  was  high  time,  the  general  believed,  to  act  with 
decision,  and  prove,  by  the  rigid  exercise  of  author-  ; 
ity,  that  such  conduct  militated  against  the  police  I 
and  safety  of  his  camp,  and  required  not  to  be  pass- 
ed with  impunity.    The  enemy  had  heretofore  ef- 
fected a  landing  without  opposition  ;  and,  althougli  > 
beaten,  might  again  return.    If  spies  were  to  be  1 
nestled  in  his  camp,  and  permitted  to  go  forth  to  the 
world  with  the  gleanings  of  their  industry,  it  was  ■ 
folly  to  believe  the  enemy  would  not  profit  by  the  j 
information.    Martial  law  still  prevailed  in  New  | 
Orleans,  and  he  resolved  to  put  it  in  execution  i 
against  those  who  manifested  such  an  evident  dis-  i 
regard  of  the  public  good.    The  editor  was  imme-  i 
diately  sent  for  to  the  general's  quarters  ;  he  stat-  I 

ed  the  author  of  the  piece  to  be  Louaillier, 

a  member  of  the  legislature,  and  he  was  thereupon  ^ 
discharged.  ! 


1 


LIFK  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON.  315 

I 

Louaillier  was  arrested,  and  detained  for  trial. 
This  circumstance  afforded  civilians  a  fair  opportu- 
nity of  testing  if  it  were  in  the  power  of  a  com-  I 
roanding  general  to  raise  the  military  above  the  civ-  i 
il  authority,  and  render  it  superior  by  any  declara-  j 
tion  of  his.  Application  was  made  to  Judge  Hall  ' 
for  a  writ  of  habeas  corpus,  which  was  immediate-  i 
ly  issued.  The  general,  to  render  the  example  as  1 
efficacious  as  possible,  and  from  information  that  ' 
the  judge  had  been  much  more  officious  than  his  i 
duty  required,  and  believing.  In  fact,  that  it  was  a  ' 
measure  of  concert  to  test  his  power,  determined  ; 
to  arrest  him  also,  and  thereby  at  once  to  settle  the  ' 
question  of  authority. 

Instead  of  surrendering  Mr.  LouaiUier,  and  act-  : 

ing  in  obedience  to  the  writ  which  had  issued  for  ] 

his  relief,  he  seized  the  person  of  the  judge,  and,  on  ! 

the  11th  of  the  month,  sent  him  from  the  city,  with  I 

these   instructions — "  I  have   thought  proper  to  I 

send  you  beyond  the  limits  of  my  encampment,  to  i 

prevent  a  repetition  of  the  improper  conduct  with  | 

which  you  have  been  charged.    You  will  remain  ^ 
without  the  line  of  my  sentinels  until  the  ratifica- 
tion of  peace  is  regularly  announced,  or  until  the 

British  shall  have  left  the  southern  coast."  ( 

The  spirit  of  discontent  had  become  extensively 
diffused.    The  different  posts,  which  had  been  es-  ; 
tablished,  could  with  difficulty  be  maintained.  The 
Kentucky  troops,  and  two  hundred  of  the  Louisia- 
na militia,  stationed  in  defence  of  VOlery's  Canal,  | 
had  abandoned  their  post.    Chef  Menteur,  too,  a 
point  no  less  important,  had  been  forsaken  by  one  i 
hundred  and  fifty  of  the  Louisianians,  in  despite  of  | 
the  exertions  of  their  officers  to  detain  them.  Gov-  ; 
ernor  Claiborne  had  been  heard  to  declare,  in  w  ords  i 


316  LIFE  OP  (5ENER.1L  JACKSON.  j 

of  mysterious  import,  that  serious  difficulties  would  j 
be  shortly  witnessed  in  New  Orleans.    For  the 
commanding  general,  at  a  time  like  this,  when  dis- 
affection was  spreading  like  contagion  through  his 
camp,  patiently  to  have  stood  and  witnessed  muti  , 
ny  fomented  and  encouraged  by  persons,  who,  from  | 
their  standing  in  society,  were  calculated  to  pos-  i 
sess  a  dangerous  influence,  would  have  been  a  crime  ' 
for  which  he  never  could  have  atoned.    He  thought 
it  time  enough  to  relax  in  his  operations,  and  ground 
his  arms,  when  the  conclusion  of  peace  shou'd  be 
announced  through  the  proper  authorities.    Until  I 
then,  believing  that  hnperious  duty  required  it,  he  ' 
resolved  to  maintain  his  advantages,  and  check  op- 
position, at  every  hazard.    To  have  obeyed  the  writ 
ivould  have  been  idle.    He  had  declared  the  exist-  1 
ence  of  military  authority,  and  thereby  intended  to  ; 
supersede  all  judicial  power.    If  he  had  obeyed  the  [ 
mandate,  it  would  have  been  an  acknowledgment  ot 
civil  supremacy,  and  a  virtual  abandonment  of  the 
course  he  had  adopted.    It  was  not  an  improbable 
event,  that  the  petitioner  would  be  discharged,  on  a 
hearing,  because  guilty  of  no  offence  cognizable  hy  I 
the  civil  courts.  I 

On  the  13th  of  the  month,  two  days  after  the 
departure  of  Judge  Hall  from  the  city,  an  express  , 
reached  head-quarters,  with  despatches  from  the  ' 
war  department,  at  Washington,  announcing  the  | 
conclusion  of  a  peace  between  Great  Britain  and  the  i 
United  States,  and  directing  a  cessation  of  hostili-  i 
ties.  A  similar  communication  from  his  govern  ! 
ment  was  received  by  General  Lambert  shortly  af  I 
terwards,  and  on  the  19th  military  operations,  by  1 
the  two  armies,  entirely  ceased.  The  aspect  of  af  j 
fairs  was  now  changing  :  the  militia  were  discharj  I 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON.  317  ^ 

ed  from  service ;  bustle  was  subsiding ;  and  joy  ! 
and  tranquillity  every  where  appearing.    A  procla-  j 
mation,  by  the  direction  of  the  president  of  the  | 
United  States,  was  issued,  extending  pardon  and 
forgiveness  for  past  offences.  ! 

Judge  Hall,  being  restored  to  the  exercise  of 
those  functions,  of  which  he  had  been  lately  be- 
reaved by  military  arrest,  proceeded,  without  loss  ' 
of  time,  to  an  examination  of  what  had  passed,  and 
to  become  the  arbiter  of  his  own  injuries.  Accord- 
ingly, on  the  21st,  he  granted  a  rule  of  court  for  ^ 
General  Jackson  to  appear,  and  show  cause  why  an 
attachment  for  contempt  should  not  be  awarded,  on  i 
the  ground  that  he  had  refused  to  obey  a  writ  issu-  '■ 
ed  to  him,  detained  an  original  paper  belonging  to  | 
the  court,  and  imprisoned  the  judge. 

On  the  24th,  his  appearance  being  entered,  he  i 
stood  represented  at  the  bar  by  John  Reid,  his  aid-  ! 
de-camp,  and  Messrs.  Livingston  and  Duncan.  Ma-  i 
jor  Reid,  addressing  himself  to  the  court,  remarked,  j 
that  he  appeared  with  the  general's  answer,  supported 
by  an  affidavit,  which  went  to  show,  that  the  rule 
should  be  discharged,  and  no  further  proceeding  had  ] 
against  him.    A  curious  course  of  judicial  proceed- 
ing was  now  witnessed.    Cause  why  the  rule  should  j 
not  be  made  absolute  was  to  be  shown,  and  yet  the  , 
judge  would  determine  whether  the  reasons  were 
exceptionable  or  not,  previously  to  their  being  heard  ( 
or  seen.    The  counsel  urged  in  vain  the  propriety 
of  his  hearing  first,  before  he  decided,  if  the  an-  ^ 
swer  were  consonant  with  propriety.    This  was 
over-ruled.    He  would  first  determine  what  it  should  I 
be.    If  within  any  of  the  rules  laid  down,  it  should  \ 
be  heard, — not  else. 

27*  I 


318  LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON. 


"  If,"  remarked  the  judge,  "  the  party  object  to 

the  jurisdiction,  he  shall  be  heard.  I 

"  If  it  be  a  denial  of  facts,  or  that  the  facts  charg-  \ 
ed  do  not  amount  to  a  contempt,  he  shall  be  heard  j 

"  If  it  be  an  apology  to  tiie  court,  or  an  inten- 
tion to  show,  that  by  the  constitution  and  laws  of 
the  United  States,  or  in  virtue  of  his  military  com-  i 
mission,  he  had  a  right  to  act  as  charged,  the  court  I 
will  hear  him."  | 

"  Hear  what  it  does  contain,  and  you  can  then  | 
decide  if  it  come  under  any  of  the  general  rules  ! 
laid  down,"  was  replied  and  argued  at  length  by  ] 
his  counsel,  as  the  correct  and  proper  course.  ; 

After  a  debate  of  considerable  length.  Major  i 
Reid  was  permitted  to  read  the  answer.    He  had 
gotten  through  the  exceptions  reserved  as  to  the  : 
jurisdiction,  and  was  proceeding  with  the  respond-  | 
ent's  reasons,  manifesting  the  necessity,  and  the  i 
consequent  propriety,  of  declaring  martial  law,  when  | 
he  was  again  interrupted  by  the  judge,  because 
coming  within  none  of  the  rules  which  he  had  laid 
down.    The  ears  of  the  court  were  closed  against 
every  thing  of  argument  or  reason,  and,  without  ' 
hearing  the  defence,  the  rule  against  him  was  ren-  ' 
dered  absolute,  and  the  attachment  sued  out.  i 

This  process  was  made  returnable  the  31st;  and  : 
on  that  day  the  general  appeared.  Public  feeling 
was  excited,  and  the  crowd,  on  the  tiptoe  of  expecta- 
tion, were  anxiously  waiting  to  know  what  punish- 
ment the  judge  would  think  due  to  acts,  which  all 
agreed  had  contributed  to  the  success  of  our  cause. 
Jackson,  apprized  of  the  popular  fervour  towards  ■ 
him,  and  solicitous  that  nothing  on  his  part  should 
be  done  calculated  to  give  it  impulse,  practised 
more  than  usual  caution ;  and  now,  when  it  ha/1  be-  i 


1 


LIF£    OF   GE>-£ilAL   JACKSO>:.  319  ^ 

come  necessary  to  appear  in  public,  to  ward  himself 
from  crimes  imputed,  he  threw  off  his  military  cos-  ! 
tume,  and,  assuming  the  garb  of  a  citizen,  the  bet-  ' 
ler  to  disguise  himself,  entered  alone  the  hall  where 
the  court  was  silting.    Undiscovered  amidst  the 
concourse  which  was  present,  he  had  nearly  reach-  ' 
ed  the  bar,  when,  being  perceived,  the  room  in-  ! 
stantly  rung  with  tlie  shouts  of  a  thousand  voices.  ' 
Raising  himself  on  a  bench,  and  moving  liis  hand  | 
to  procure  silence,  a  pause  ensued.    He  then  ad-  j 
dressed  himself  to  tlie  crowd  ;  told  them  of  the  duty  | 
due  to  the  public  authorities  ;  for  that  any  impro-  ' 
priety  of  theirs  would  be  imputed  to  him ;  and  urged,  I 
if  they  had  any  regard  for  him,  tliat  they  would,  or.  I 
the  present  occasion,  forbear  those  expressions  of 
opinion.    SUence  being  restored,  the  judge  rose  ; 
from  his  seat,  and,  remarking  that  it  was  impossible  ! 
to  transact  business  under  such  threatening  circum- 
stances, directed  the  marshal  to  adjourn  the  court.  I 
The  general  immediately  interfered,  and  requested 
that  it  might  not  be  done.    "  There  is  no  danger  ! 
here  ;  there  shall  be  none  ;  the  same  arm,  that  pro- 
tected from  outrage  this  city,  will  shield  and  pro- 
tect this  court,  or  perish  in  the  effort."    This  dec 
laration  had  the  effect  to  tranquillize  the  feelings  of  ■ 
the  judge  ;  and  the  business  of  the  court  was  pro-  ' 
ceeded  with.    It  was  now  demanded  of  him  to  an- 
swer nineteen  interrogatories,  drawn  up  with  much  { 
labour,  and  in  studied  form,  which  were  to  deter-  1 
mine  as  to  his  guilt  or  innocence.    He  informed  the  | 
court  he  should  not  be  interrogated  ;  that,  on  a 
former  occasion,  he  had  presented  the  reasons 
which  had  influenced  his  conduct,  without  their  i 
producing  an  effect,  or  being  even  listened  to.  ' 
"  You  w^ould  not  hear  my  defence,  although  you  ! 


320 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON. 


were  advised  it  contained  nothing  improper,  and 
ample  reasons  why  no  attachment  should  be  award- 
ed. Under  these  circumstances,  I  appear  before 
you,  to  receive  the  sentence  of  the  court,  having 
nothing  further  in  my  defence  to  offer. 

"  Your  honour  will  not  understand  me  as  intend- 
ing any  disrespect  to  the  court ;  but  as  no  opp  rtu- 
nity  has  been  afforded  me  of  explaining  the  rea-  ! 
sons  and  motives  by  which  I  was  influenced,  so  is 
it  expected,  that  censure  or  reproof  will  constitute 
no  part  of  that  sentence  which  you  may  imagine  it  | 
your  duty  to  pronounce."  i 

The  judge  proceeded  to  a  final  discharge  of  what 
he  conceived  was  due  to  the  offended  majesty  of 
the  laws,  and  fined  the  general  a  thousand  dollars. 

The  hall  in  which  this  business  was  transacted 
was  greatly  crov/ded,  and  excitement  every  where 
prevailed.    No  sooner  was  the  judgment  of  the  ' 
court  pronounced,  than  again  were  sent  forth  shouts 
of  the  people.    He  was  forcibly  hurried  from  the  ' 
hall  to  the  streets,  amidst  reiterated  cries  of  "  Huzza  ' 
for  Jackson  !"  from  the  immense  concourse  that  sur-  | 
rounded  him.    They  presently  met  a  carriage  in 
which  a  lady  was  riding,  when,  politely  taking  her  ' 
from  it,  the  general  was  made,  spite  of  entreaty,  to  j 
occupy  her  place :  the  horses  being  removed,  the  I 
carriage  was  drawn  on,  and  halted  at  the  coffee-  I 
house,  into  which  he  was  carried,  and  thither  the 
crowd  followed,  huzzaing  for  Jackson,  and  menac-  i 
mg  violently  the  judge.    Having  prevailed  on  them  I 
to  hear  him,  he  addressed  them  with  great  earnest-  ] 
ness  ;  implored  them  to  run  into  no  excesses  ;  that,  ■ 
if  they  had  the  least  gratitude  for  his  services,  or 
regard  for  him  personally  they  could  evince  it  in 
no  way  so  satisfactorily,  as  y  assenting  as  he  most  i 


i 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSOM.  821 

"freely  did,  to  the  decision  which  had  been  pro-  ' 
nounced  against  him  ;  "  that  the  civil  was  the  para- 
mount and  supreme  authority  of  the  land.    He  had  < 
never  pretended  to  any  thing  else,  nor  advocated  a 
different  doctrine.    He  had  departed  from  its  rules,  \ 
because  that  they  were  too  feeble  for  the  state  of  ' 
the  times.    By  a  resort  to  martial  law,  he  had  suc- 
ceeded in  defending  and  protecting  a  country,  which,  ' 
without  it,  must  have  been  lost ;  yet  under  its  provi-  ' 
sions  he  had  oppressed  no  one,  nor  extendea  them  to  1 
any  other  purpose  than  defence  and  safety ;  objects  ■ 
which  its  declaration  was  intended  alone  to  effect." 
•'I  feel,"  continued  he,  "sensible  for  those  marks  , 
of  personal  regard,  which  you  have  evinced  towards  j 
me  ;  and  with  pleasure  remember  those  high  efforts  , 
of  valour  and  patriotism,  which  so  essentially  con-  ! 
tributed  to  the  defence  of  the  country.    If  recent 
events  have  shown  you  what  fearless  valour  can  ef-  . 
feet,  it  is  a  no  less  important  truth  to  learn,  thai  ' 
Bubmission  to  the  civil  authority  is  the  first  duty  of  | 
a  citizen."  ' 

Being  at  length  relieved  from  this  warm  display  ' 
of  regard  manifested  towards  him  for  the  exertions  ; 
he  had  made  in  their  defence,  Jackson  retired  to  j 
his  quarters,  and,  giving  a  check  to  his  aid-de-camp  | 
6ent  him  to  discharge  the  fine  imposed,  and  to  ter- 
minate his  contest  with  the  civil  authority.  He  was  J 
greatly  consoled  at  learning,  through  various  re-  i 
spectable  channels,  that  all  was  tranquil,  and  thai  | 
against  the  judge  nothing  of  indignity  or  unkind  ' 
ness  was  longer  meditated.  I 

So  riveted  was  the  impression,  that  the  course 
pursued  by  the  general  was  correct,  and  the  con- 
duct of  Judge  Hall  more  the  result  of  spleen  than 
any  thing  else,  that  the  citizens  of  New  Orleans 


i 


322  LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON 


determined  to  ward  off  the  effect  of  his  intended 
injury,  by  discharging  themselves  the  fine  imposed. 
It  was  only  necessary  to  be  thought  of,  and  it  was 
done.  So  numerous  were  the  persona  entertain- 
ing the  same  feelings  on  tlie  subject,  that  in  a  short 
time  the  entire  sum  was  raised  by  voluntary  con- 
tribution. The  general,  understanding  what  was  in 
agitation,  to  spare  his  own  and  their  feelings,  had 
despatched  his  aid-de-camp  to  seek  the  marshal, 
and  thereby  avoided  the  necessity  of  refusing  a 
favour  intended  to  be  offered,  and  which  he  could 
not  have  accepted.  Without,  however,  any  knowl- 
edge of  his  wishes,  or  consulting  at  all  his  feelings 
on  the  subject,  they  proceeded  in  the  arrangement, 
and,  by  subscription,  the  entire  amount  was  in  a 
short  time  raised,  and  deposited  to  his  use  in  the  bank, 
and  notice  thereof  given.  But  it  was  not  accept- 
ed ;  though  refused  in  a  manner  the  most  delicate. 
In  reply,  he  declared  the  obligations  felt  for  this  re- 
newed evidence  of  regard  ;  and,  although  he  could 
not  accept  of  it,  yet,  as  it  was  the  result  of  the  most 
generous  feeling,  he  solicited  that  the  amount  might 
be  applied  to  the  relief  of  those  whose  relative* 
had  fallen  in  battle.  The  proposition  was  acceded 
to,  and  the  amount  subscribed  expressly  for  his  re 
lief  was  disposed  of  for  the  benefit  of  the  widow 
and  the  fatherless. 

Jackson  once,  concerning  the  declaration  of  mar- 
tial law,  expressed  himself  after  the  following  man- 
ner :  "  I  very  well  knew  the  extent  of  my  powers, 
and  that  it  was  far  short  of  that  which  necessity 
and  my  situation  required.  I  determined,  therefore, 
to  venture  boldly  forth,  and  pursue  a  course  corre- 
spondent to  the  difficulties  that  pressed  upon  me. 
T  had  an  anxious  solicitude  to  wipe  off  the  stij>ok& 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON 


323 


cast  upon  my  country  by  the  destruction  of  the  cap-  ' 
ital.    If  New  Orleans  were  taken,  I  well  knew  that  ^ 
new  difficulties  would  arise,  and  every  effort  be  made  ; 
to  retain  it ;  and  that,  if  regained,  blood  and  treas  ' 
ure  would  be  the  sacrifice.    My  determination, 
therefore,  was  formed,  not  to  halt  at  trifles,  but  to 
lose  the  city  only  at  the  boldest  sacrifice,  and  to  | 
omit  nothing  that  could  assure  success.    I  wae  well  j 
aware  that  calculating  politicians,  ignorant  of  the 
difficulties  that  surrounded  me,  would  condemn  my  j 
course  ;  but  this  was  not  material.    What  became  j 
of  me  was  of  no  consequence.    If  disaster  did 
come,  I  expected  not  to  survive  it ;  but,  if  a  successful 
defence  could  be  made,  I  felt  assured  that  my  coun- 
try, in  the  objects  attained,  would  lose  sight  of,  and 
forget  the  means  that  had  been  employed."  j 

The  war  being  now  ended,  it  was  necessary  to 
relieve  from  the  toils  of  the  field  those  brave  men,  , 
who  had  so  long  been  struggling  in  their  country's  1 
defence.    The  necessary  measures  to  effect  this  ' 
were  adopted.    The  Tennessee,  Kentucky,  and 
Mississippi  troops  had  taken  their  departure.  Gen- 
eral Gaines  being  invested  with  the  command,  in  a 
few  days  General  Jackson  left  New  Orleans  for  ; 
Nashville.    The  good  wishes  and  friendship  of  the  " 
people  followed  him :  there  were  a  few,  however, 
who  rejoiced  at  his  departure  ;  but  thev  vore  those  j 
who,  in  moments  of  peril,  had  stood  aloof  from 
danger,  or  sought  to  increase  it,  and  who,  in  the  re-  I 
proaches  to  be  cast  upon  him,  expected  to  palliate  ' 
their  own  misdeeds.    Previously  to  breaking  up  i 
his  encampment,  he  addressed  his  army,  and  de-  i 
clared  the  high  sense  he  entertained  of  those  valiant  i 
men,  who,  with  him,  had  toiled  in  the  field,  and,  by  j 
perseverance   and   fidelity,  had   obtained  safety 


I 


324  LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON. 


for  their  country,  and  distinguished  honour  for  tliem- 
selves. 

On  bis  return,  the  respect  of  all  was  manifested 
in  his  behalf:  all  evinced  a  partiality  for  the  man, 
whose  signal  achievements  had  raised  his  country 
to  a  high  and  dignified  standing,  and  whose  unre- 
mitting exertions  had  closed  the  war  with  a  lustre  i 
that  enlightened  even  the  blots  of  its  commencement.  j 

The  annunciation  of  the  triumphant  defence  of 
New  Orleans  was,  in  every  section  of  the  country, 
hailed  with  acclamation ;  illuminations  and  fetes 
followed  it  into  all  our  cities  and  principal  towns  ; 
and  in  all  was  it  agreed,  that  none  other  than  the  , 
decided  course  adopted  by  Jackson  could  have  at-  | 
tained  so  auspicious  a  "-esult.    The  legislatures  of  | 
many  of  the  states  voted  to  him  their  thanks  for  i 
what  he  had  done.    The  congress  of  the  United 
States  did  the  same,  and  directed  a  gold  medal  to  be 
presented  to  him,  commemorative  of  the  event.   Ad-  | 
dresses  from  numerous  societies  and  meetings  of  the  | 
people  were  forwarded,  expressive  of  their  great 
regard,  and  proclaiming  him  the  deliverer  and  sec-  , 
ond  saviour  of  his  country.  I 

A  tedious  journey  of  eight  hundred  miles  brought  j 
him  to  Nashville,  where  he  was  gratified  with  a  mani  ; 
festation  of  the  regard  of  his  fellow  townsmen.    Ani  | 
immense  concourse  was  collected,  to  welcome  hiu 
arrival.    They  had  long  known  him  as  among  the 
number  of  their  best  and  most  respectable  citizens  ;  I 
but  curiosity  had  a  new  incentive  :  until  now,  they-  j 
had  not  beheld  him  as  one,  who,  to  protect  his  coun- 
try, knew  no  difiicalty  too  great  to  be  encountered —  | 
who,  by  his  firmness  and  unconquerable  perseve-  j 
ranee,  amidst  surrounding  dangers,  had  saved  her  | 
.'r.onj.  foreign  and  intestine  foes.    An  address,  deliv-  i 


j 


LIFE   OF   GENERAL  JACKSON.              325  I 

I 

ered  at  the  court-room,  in  behalf  of  the  citizens,  ' 
welcomed  his  return.    Relieved  from  this  further 

display  of  public  confidence,  the  more  grateful,  be-  ; 

cause  from  those  who  were  his  acquaintances,  neigh-  [ 

hours,  and  friends,  he  retired  home,  to  repair  a  bro-  ! 
ken  constitution,  and  to  enjoy  that  repose,  to  which, 
for  eighteen  months,  he  had  been  a  stranger. 

Early  in  the  congressional  session  of  1820,  sev- 
eral propositions  were  made  for  the  reduction  of  ■ 
the  army,  which,  however,  were  not  decided  upon.  | 
On  the  9th  of  January,  1821,  the  subject  was  again  1 
revived  ;  and  on  the  5th  of  March,  following,  by 
an  act  of  congress,  approved  by  the  president,  the  j 
reduction  was  effected.   By  this  law,  only  one  ma-  '< 
jor-general  was  retained,  and,  as  General  Jackson  , 
was  not  the  senior  conmiissioned  general,  his  com- 
mission was  annulled,  and,  by  courtesy,  his  senior  1 
wds  retained.    All  commissioned  officers  were  al- 
lowed three  months'  pay,  after  their  commissions  j 
were  returned.    Previous  to  this,  as  early  as  the  | 
preceding  January,  the  news  of  the  ratification  of  | 
the  Florida  treaty,  by  the  Spanish  cortes,  had  been  ' 
received.    On  the  3d  of  January,  Mr.  Stanbury, 
the  diplomatic  agent,  arrived  at  Philadelphia,  in  the  ! 
Pleiades,  with  an  authenticated  copy  of  the  treaty  for  1 
the  re-ratification  of  the  senate,  which  had  become  . 
necessary,  as  the  time  allowed  to  Spain  to  signify  j 
her  acceptance  of  the  instrument  had  expired  be-  , 
fore  this  acceptance  was  declared.   The  senate,  on  ■ 
the  9th  of  February,  1821,  considered  the  subject,  | 
and  gave  their  sanction  anew  to  the  instrument,  which 
was  finally  confirmed  on  the  22d.    By  this  advan-  j 
tageous  treaty.  East  and  West  Florida  were  ceded  i 
to  the  United  States,  and  provision  made  for  indem- 
nifying American  citizens  for  Spanish  spoliations,  I 
28  I 


i 


326  LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON- 

by  paying  five  millions  of  dollars,  the  amount  agreed  I 

upon  as  the  purchase  money,  directly  to  the  claim-  ' 
ants. 

On  the  1st  of  March,  1821,  a  bill  passed,  autho- 
rizing the  president  to  take  possession  of  the  newly- 
acquired  territory.  Throe  days  after  this,  March  5th,  ] 
Mr.  Monroe  was  sworn  to  his  second  term  of  office,  i 
and  one  of  the  earliest  and  most  important  du-  I 
ties  that  devolved  upon  hira  was  the  appointment  of 
a  person  suitably  qualified  to  take  possession  of  the 
Floridas.    Various  conjectures  were  abroad,  in  re-  ! 
lation  to  the  individual  upon  whom  this  honour  I 
would  be  conferred.    Mr.  Monroe  very  judiciously  ] 
fixed  his  eye  on  the  man  whose  patriotic  exertions  , 
had  been  so  instrumental  in  bringing  the  war  in  [ 
that  very  region  to  a  successful  termination.  On 
the  15th  of  March,  therefore,  General  Jackson's  ' 
appointment,  as  governor  of  the  Floridas,  with  a 
salary  of  five  thousand  dollars  a  year,  was  official-  j 
ly  announced. 

Soon  after  being  notified  of  his  appointment,  he  i 

commenced  his  journey  towards  his  place  of  desti-  I 

nation.  I 

On  the  23d  of  April,  he  left  New  Orleans  for  ] 
Pensacola,  having  received  the  greatest  attention 

from  the  municipal  authorities  in  the  very  theatre  of  j 

his  former  warlike  exploits.     The  hospitality  of  1 

individuals,  and  the  general  expression  of  the  peo-  1 

pie  of  New  Orleans,  were  calculated  to  call  forth  | 

the  liveliest  feelings  of  gratitude.  | 

There  was  considerable  delay,  on  the  part  of  the  ' 

Spanish  authorities,  in  delivering  up  the  territories.  "< 
This  resulted  from  their  prejudices  against  the 

United  States,  and  their  disapprobation  of  the  trea-  | 

ty  requiring  the  transfer.  ' 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON.  327 

I 

On  the  7th  of  July,  1821,  Governor  Croppinger,  | 
by  proclamation,  formally  delivered  East  Florida  to 

Colonel  Robert  Butler,  the  properly  authorized  com-  | 

missioner.    General  Jackson,  though  not  preseui,  . 

was  in  the  vicinity,  making  the  necessary  arrange-  i 

ments  for  the  government  of  both.    Ten  days  af-  j 

ter  this,  July  17th,  West  Florida  was  delivered  to  I 

Governor  Jackson  in  due  form.    Thus  the  whole  of  ' 

the  newly-acquired  territory  was  placed  under  his  \ 

control  as  governor-general.     When  the  proper  , 

course  had  been  adopted  for  the  happiness  of  all  class-  , 

es,  he  issued  a  proclamation  of  a  paternal  character,  ■ 

defining  the  policy  of  the  government,  and  pointing  , 
out  the  duties  of  the  people  in  their  new  relation. 

After  the  satisfactory  termination  of  the  great 

business  of  receiving  the  Floridas,  he  made  an  ex-  . 

cursion  to  New  Orleans,  and,  on  the  11th  of  Au-  , 

gust,  delivered  a  valedictory  address  to  the  re-  i 

mainder  of  the  conquering  army,  then  on  the  point  1 

of  being  disbanded.    In  this  speech,  which  breath-  j 

ed  the  sentiments  of  affectionate  regard  towards  i 

those  brave  men,  who  had  aided  him  in  the  accom-  ' 
plishment  of  so  many  perilous  undertakings,  for 

the  glory  and  honour  of  their  country,  he  made  j 

known  that  his  career,  as  commander  in  chief  of  i 

the  southern  division  of  the  American  army,  was  ' 
then  terminated.    Again  we  find  him,  at  the  close 
of  August,  at  St.  Augustine.    On  the  1st  day  of 
September,  Governor   Jackson   promulgated  the 
names  of  those  whom  he  had  appointed  for  the  civil 

government  of  ]']ast  Florida.  There  was  much  ' 
contention,  about  this  time,  relative  to  the  Spanish 

archives,  which  resulted  in  some  unpleasant  personal  | 

feelings  between  the  governor  and  Judge  Fromentin.  ! 

Urgent  measures,  on  the  part  of  Governor  Jackson,  i 


328 


LIFE  OP  GENERAL  JACKSON. 


were  highly  necessary,  and  hence  lie  issued  a  proc- 
lamation, which  obliged  the  Spanish  officers  to  leave 
the  territories  at  a  specified  period.  Against  this 
Governor  Croppinger,  together  with  the  offended 
officers,  made  a  remonstrance.  Croppinger,  partic- 
ularly, protested  against  the  seizure  of  the  public 
papers,  &c.  The  details  of  this  occurrence  our 
limits  will  not  permit  us  to  narrate.  It  is  certain, 
however,  that  there  were  intriguers  in  the  territo- 
ries, and  various  misrepresentations,  touching  the 
administration  of  the  newly-formed  government, 
which,  probably,  induced  Governor  Jackson  to  re- 
sign a  power,  which  could  not  contribute  to  his 
own  happiness,  or  increase  his  sphere  of  useful- 
ness. 

On  the  8th  of  September,  Governor  Jackson, 

then  at  Pensacola,  made  known  his  intention  of  vis- 
iting Tennessee  with  his  family.  This  was  no 
sooner  understood,  than  he  was  invited  to  a  pub- 
lic dinner  by  the  inhabitants.  On  that  occasion, 
every  demonstration  of  respect  was  shown  to  the 
distinguished  and  successful  warrior.  To  the  sur- 
prise and  regret  of  an  increasing  circle  of  friends, 
who  knew  how  to  appreciate  his  talents,  he  made  a 
farewell  address  to  the  people  of  the  Floridas.  In 
the  course  of  his  speech,  he  remarked  that  he 
should  not  return  again,  unless  some  unexpected 
event  should  render  it  necessary. 

Soon  after  the  meeting  of  the  seventeenth  con- 
gress, on  the  29th  of  the  following  December,Gover- 
nor  Jackson,  having  discharged  with  fidelity  and  suc- 
cess the  duties  of  his  appointment,  tendered  to  the 
president  his  resignation. 

Scarcely  thirty  days  had  elapsed  from  the  time  of 
bis  resignation  of  the  government  of  the  Floridas, 


LIFE  OP  GENERAL   JACKSON.  329  i 


before  he  was  honoured  by  Mr.  Monroe  with  an-  ! 
other  appointment  of  higher  political  consequence. 
January  23d,  1823,  General  Jackson  was  appointed  , 
envoy  extraordinary  and  minister  plenipotentiary  to  I 
the  government  of  Mexico.  As  an  evidence  that  '. 
he  had  no  knowledge  of  the  intentions  of  the  ex-  ! 
ecutive,  we  find,  on  the  1st  of  the  following  March,  j 
in  a  respectful  manner,  he  declined  the  offered  * 
mission.  It  has  been  generally  understood  that  ! 
this  was  in  consequence  of  the  unsettled  and  dis-  | 
tracted  state  of  Mexico,  then  under  the  control  of 
Iturbide,  who  had  declared  himself  emperor.  The  , 
true  motive,  however,  for  decliniiig  the  proffered  1 
honour,  is  to  be  found  in  the  general's  own  words  :  , 
"  From  the  present  revolutionary  state  of  Mexico,  ' 
the  appearance  of  an  American  envoy,  with  ere-  | 
dentials  to  the  tyrant  Iturbide,  might  add  to  his  i 
strength,  and  thereby  aid  him  in  riveting  the  chains  \ 
of  despotism  upon  that  country,  which  of  right 
ought  to  be  free.  To  be  the  instrument  of  tyranny,  i 
however  innocent  on  my  part,  I  could  not  recon- 
cile to  my  feelings.  With  these  views,  and  other  rea-  ] 
sons,  which  I  have  communicated  to  Mr.  Monroe,  I  \ 
have  declined  accepting  the  mission  to  Mexico."  j 
But  a  short  time  after.  May  13th,  the  Mexican  em- 
peror abdicated  his  throne,  and  made  the  best  of  i 
his  way  from  a  country,  which  he  had  brought  to 
the  verge  of  ruin.  i 
General  Jackson  now  retired  to  the  quietude  of  | 
private  life,  and,  in  the  circle  of  his  own  family,  ; 
Bought  that  rest  from  the  fatigues  and  countless  i 
anxieties  of  a  military  life,  which  his  exhausted  : 
frame  and  spirits  so  obviously  required.  The  con-  ■ 
fidence,  however,  which  the  citizens  of  Tennessee 
Jiad  in  his  talents  and  wisdom,  was  again  manifest-  ) 
28*  ! 


330  LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON. 


ed  in  electing  him  a  senator  to  the  eighteenth  con- 
gress which  assembled  in  December,  1 823 ;  and 
once  more  he  resigned  the  endearments  of  home  to 
mingle  in  the  councils  of  the  nation.  On  his  route 
from  Nashville  to  Washington,  he  was  greeted  by 
the  most  enthusiastic  applause.  The  citizens  of 
Knoxville,  in  a  special  manner,  honoured  their  cel- 
ebrated guest  with  a  public  dinner,  and  exhibited, 
in  the  strongest  language,  and  in  the  most  unequiv- 
ocal hospitality ,that  they  considered  him  a  man  of  ex- 
traordinary talents,  whose  past  services  entitled  him 
to  the  admiration  and  confidence  of  his  country. 

During  the  session  of  congress,  he  entered  with 
spirited  interest  into  the  general  business  of  the 
nation,  and  was  frequently  on  some  of  the  most  im- 
Dortant  committees.  As  indefatigable  in  the  sen- 
ate as  in  military  command,  he  found  that  such  un- 
remitted attention  to  public  affairs,  as  his  duty  re- 
quired, to  sustain  the  dignity  of  the  station,  was  al- 
together too  severe  for  tlie  delicate  state  of  his 
health.  The  political  horizon,  also,  now  began  to 
present  a  different  aspect,  and  the  circumstance  of 
his  being  a  camlidate  for  the  presidential  chair, 
without  doubt,  influenced  him,  to  a  considerable  ex- 
tent, in  resigning  his  seat  in  the  senate.  Soon  af- 
ter the  close  of  the  session,  he  made  known  to  his 
constituents  the  determination,  and,  in  a  few  weeks, 
it  was  announced,  to  the  sincere  regret  of  all  who 
knew  the  integrity  of  his  character. 

In  the  person  of  General  Jackson  is  perceived 
nothing  of  the  robust  or  elegant.  He  is  six  feet 
and  an  inch  high,  remarkably  straight  and  spare, 
and  weighs  not  more  than  a  hundred  and  forty-five 
pounds.  His  conformation  appears  to  disqualify 
him  for  hardship ;  yet,  accustomed  to  it  from  early 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON.  331 

life,  few  are  capable  of  enduring  fatigue  to  the 
same  extent,  or  with  less  injury.    His  dark  blue 
eyes,  wiih  brows  arched  and  slightly  projecting, 
possess  a  marked  expression ;  but  when,  from  any  ' 
cause,  excited,  they  sparkle  with  peculiar  lustre  and  ! 
penetration.    In  his  manners  he  is  pleasing — in  his 
address  commanding  ;  while  his  countenance,  mark-  | 
ed  with  firmness  and  decision,  beams  with  a  strength  ! 
and  intelligence  that  strikes  at  first  sight.     In  his  i 
deportment  there  is  nothing  repulsive.    Easy,  af-  1 
fable,  and  familiar,  he  is  accessible  to  all.    Influ-  '. 
enced  by  the  belief,  that  merit  should  constitute  the  i 
only  difference  in  men,  his  attention  is  equally  be-  < 
stowed  on  honest  poverty  as  on  titled  consequence,  i 
No  man,  however  inconsiderable  his  standing,  ever  i 
approached  him  on  business,  that  he  did  not  patient-  ] 
ly  listen  to  his  story,  and  afford  him  all  the  informa- 
tion in  his  power.    His  moral  character  is  without 
reproach,  and  by  those  who  know  him  most  inti-  ' 
mately  he  is  most  esteemed.    Benevolence  in  him  | 
is  a  prominent  virtue.    He  was  never  known  to  pass  ] 
distress  without  seeking  to  assist  and  to  relieve  it.  j 
It  is  imputed  to  him,  that  he  derives  from  his  ' 
birth  a  temper  irritable  and  hasty,  which  has  had 
the  effect  to  create  enemies,  and  involve  him  in  dis- 
putes.   In  Jackson,  however,  these  defects  of  char-  : 
acter  exist  to  an  extent  as  limited  as  with  most 
men  ;  and  the  world  is  in  error  in  presuming  him  un-  ] 
der  a  too  high  control  of  feeling  and  passion.    A  fix-  , 
ed  devotion  to  those  principles  which  honour  sanc- 
tions, renders  him  scrupulously  attentive  to  his 
promises  and  engagements  of  every  description  j 
Preserving  system  in  his  moneyed  transactions,  his  i 
fiscal  arrangements  are  made  to  correspond  with  i 
iua  resources,  and  hence  his  every  engagement  in 


832  LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON. 


relation  to  such  subjects  is  met  with  marked  punc- 
tuality, not  for  the  reason  that  he  is  a  man  of  ex- 
traordinary wealth,  but  rather  because  he  has  meth- 
od, and  with  a  view  to  his  resources,  regulates 
properly  his  balance  of  trade. 

No  man  has  been  more  misconceived  in  charac- 
ter. Many,  on  becoming  acquainted  with  him,  have 
been  heard  to  admit  the  previous  opinions  which 
they  had  entertained,  and  how  great  had  been  their 
mistake.  Rough  in  appearance,  positive  and  over 
bearing  in  his  manner,  are  what  all,  upon  a  first  in- 
troduction, expect  to  find ;  and  yet  none  are  pos- 
sessed of  milder  manners,  or  of  more  conciliating 
address.  The  public  situations  in  which  he  has 
been  placed,  and  the  circumstances  which  surround- 
ed him,  are  doubtless  the  cause  that  those  opinions 
have  become  so  prevalent ;  but  they  are  opinions 
which  an  acquaintance  with  him  tends  to  remove. 
The  dilEc«lties  under  which  he  laboured  at  New  Or 
leans  were  such  as  might  well  have  perplexed,  and 
thrown  the  mind  aside  from  every  thing  of  mildness. 

Light  and  trifling  pleasantries  often  mark  char- 
acter as  distinctly  as  things  of  consequence.  Gen- 
eral Jackson,  one  day  during  the  siege  of  New  Or- 
leans, was  approached  by  an  ofiicer  of  the  mUitia, 
who  stated  his  desire  to  leave  the  ser\'ice,  and  re- 
turn home  ;  for  that  he  was  made  game  of,  and 
called  by  the  company  Pewter  Foot.  He  manifest- 
ed great  concern,  and  an  anxious  desire  to  be  re- 
lieved from  his  unpleasant  situation.  The  general, 
with  much  apparent  sympathy  for  him,  replied,  that 
he  had  ascertained  there  was  a  practice  in  the  camp 
of  giving  nick-names  ;  and  had  understood,  too, 
that  very  many  had  dared  to  call  him  Old  Hickory: 
"Now,"  said  he,  "if  you  prefer  mine,  I  am  willing 


UFE  OF  GENEKAL  JACKSON.  333 

to  exchange ;  if  not,  remain  contented,  and  perform  I 

your  duty  faithfully,  and,  as  soon  as  we  can  get  clear  j 

of  tliose  troublesome  British,  our  wrongs  shall  be  ' 

inquired  into  by  a  court-martial,  and  the  authors  | 

punished  ;  for  then,  and  not  tUl  then,  shall  we  have  I 

an  end  of  those  insults."     The  effect  was  happy,  ] 

and  induced  tlie  complaining  officer  to  retire,  per-  | 

fectly  satisSed  to  learn,  that  his  grievance  would  ] 

be  united  with  the  general's,  and  both  ere  long  be  , 

effectually  redressed.  I 

General  Jackson  possesses  ambition,  but  it  rests  j 
on  virtue  ;  an  ambition,  which,  regulated  by  a  high 

sense  of  honourable  feeling,  leads  hint  to  desire  I 

"  that  applause  which  follows  good  actions — not  , 

that  which  is  run  after."    No  man  is  more  ready  to  ' 

hear  and  to  respect  the  opLmons  of  others,  and  none,  , 

where  much  is  at  stake,  and  at  conflict  with  his  j 

own,  less  disposed  to  be  under  their  influence.  \ 

fie  has  never  been  known  to  call  a  council  of  war,  1 

(vhose  decisions,  when  made,  were  to  shield  him  ' 
from  responsibility  or  censure.    His  council  of  war, 
if  doubting  himself,  was  a  few  officers,  in  whom  he 
fully  confided,  whose  advice  was  regarded,  if  their 

reasons  were  conclusive  ;  but,  these  not  being  satis-  i 

factory,  he  at  once  adopted  and  pursued  the  course  , 

suggested  by  his  own  mind.  ^ 

At  the  battle  of  Tohopeka,  an  infant  was  found  j 
pressed  to  the  bosom  of  its  lifeless  mother.  This  : 
circumstance  being  made  known  to  General  Jack- 
son, he  became  interested  for  the  child,  directed  it  1 
to  be  brought  to  him,  and  sought  to  prevail  on  some  I 
of  the  Indian  women  to  take  care  of  and  rear  it.  j 
They  signified  their  unwillingness  to  do  so,  stating  ; 
that,  inasmuch  as  all  its  relations  had  fallen  in  bat- 
tle, they  thought  it  best  it  should  be  killed.    The  i 


I 

334  LIFE  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON.  J 

1 

general,  after  this  disclosure,  determined  he  would 
not  intrust  it  with  them,  but  became  himself  the 
protector  of  the  child.  Bestowing  on  the  infant 
the  name  of  Lincoier,  he  adopted  it  into  his  family,  ■ 
and  has  ever  since  manifested  the  liveliest  zeal  to- 
wards it,  prompted  by  benevolence,  and  because,  j 
perhaps,  its  fate  bore  a  strong  resemblance  to  his 
own,  who,  in  early  life,  and  from  the  ravages  of 
war,  was  left  in  the  world  forlorn  and  wretched, 
without  friends  to  assist,  or  near  relations  to  direct 
him  on  his  course.  j 

Thus  we  have  traced  the  private  and  public  life  of 
the  man,  who  is  rightly  denominated  the  Hero  of  i 
JV*eu>  Orleans. 

General  Jackson  continues  to  reside  on  his  es-  j 
tate  in  Nashville,  Tennessee,  surrounded  by  an  agree- 
able circle  of  intellectual  friends,  in  the  possession 
of  no  office,  but  in  the  enjoyment  of  the  richest  bless-  | 
ings  of  Divine  Providence, — a  moderate  fortune,  ] 
sound  health,  and  a  good  conscience.  j 

The  author  has  not  adverted  to  the  many  popu-  . 
lar  efforts  in  the  United  States  to  raise  General  ; 
Jackson  to  the  first  office  in  the  nation,  nor  related  \ 
the  flattering  reception  of  the  conqueror,  on  the  8th  j 
of  January,  1828,  on  the  battle-ground  of  New  Or-  j 
leans,  the  scene  of  those  great  achievements,  which 
furnish  a  brilliant  page  to  the  history  of  his  country. 
Time  will  develope  his  future  destiny, — whether  he  " 
will  yet  be  the  chief  magistrate  of  a  great  repub-  j 
lie,  or  whether  his  name  will  go  down  to  posteri-  I 
ty,  simply  as  one  of  the  most  distinguished  warriors  j 
and  disinterested  patriots  of  the  age.  ^ 

FINIS. 


1 

I 


I 


i 


UJISSCS] 


